BRANCH
OUT
OUR PEOPLE
Perrin Krisko
Perrin is the Project Manager for Branch Out. Perrin is a graduating senior studying International Relations in the Pardee School of the College of Arts and Sciences with specializations in Environmental Policy and Middle Eastern Affairs; she is also minoring in Earth Science and Middle Eastern Cultures. Perrin has done work with Cape Wind, the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Espace Associatif, 350.org and the Climate Action 2016 Conference for the United Nations and University of Maryland. Perrin has an interest in foreign language, social and
environmental justice, water resources and preservation,
alternative energy and innovation, and all things outdoors. Next for Perrin is volunteering with the Peace Corps in Mongolia after she graduates in May and one day she hopes to research water allocation in Egypt with American University in Cairo or river sedimentation in Nepal through the University of Saint Andrews. Perrin is not sure yet whether she wants to pursue a degree in Environmental Law at the Vermont Law School or a masters at the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding of Dartmouth College or the Earth Institute of Columbia University. For now, Perrin enjoys attending weekly service opportunities with Branch Out and making new friends through the Community Service Center.
Perrin can be reached at brancho@bu.edu
Megan Mulligan
Megan is the Public Relations Director for Branch Out. Megan is a freshman studying journalism in the College of Communication with plans to specialize in magazine or broadcast reporting; she is also minoring in international relations. Megan has worked with the Middlesex County (NJ) Nature Conservation Corps for almost two years, gaining experience working in hands-on environmental conservation. Megan has an interest in conservation and environmental and social justice, but also all aspects of writing and editing. In a perfect world she would combine these by hiking around the world as a nature writer, but for now embraces every opportunity BU offers. As PR for Branch Out, Megan photographs and writes about the different volunteer events and interviews volunteers regularly for a “Volunteer Appreciation” column. Outside of the CSC Megan also works with WTBU radio, “The Buzz” lifestyle magazine, and College Democrats.
Megan can be reached by e-mail at megankm@bu.edu
Luisa Silva
Luisa is the Community Outreach Liaison for Branch Out. She received the position after returning from a study abroad semester at the University of Copenhagen where she was studying climatic physics and geopolitics of climate change. As the Community Outreach Liaison, Luisa serves as a site contact and leads groups of volunteers to the Boston Nature Center every week where they work on various environmental stewardship projects. She is currently a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in environmental science and minoring in sustainable energy. Over the summer Luisa is hoping to study sea level rise in Venice, Italy through Boston University. After graduation she plans to take a year off, interning in Washington, D.C. before applying to graduate school. She hopes to complete a masters in the engineering for sustainable development program at the University of Cambridge, England. In the future, she wants to either stick with sustainable energy engineering or head into sustainable architecture. Luisa enjoys traveling, playing tennis, sailing and painting.
Luisa can be reached by e-mail at lusilva@bu.edu
Jessica Liao
Jessica is the Branch Out Green Up Day Chair. As a graduating senior studying sociology, she wants to become a counselor or therapist who helps individuals through the power of actively and consciously being outdoors. Being a part of the BU Outing Club has helped her realize how the outdoors is essential because of how it humbles us and helps people connect with ourselves, our peers, and the worlds that we live in. She believes that taking care of our bodies is an important ingredient in taking care of our minds and therefore our holistic well-being. Jessica will be helping to plan a BU litter-clean up day and poster contest in the spring as a part of her role as Green Up Day Chair. Jessica has experience campaigning for national parks going bottled-water free in the Delaware Water Gap, helped lead an alternative service break trip to Stone Mountain, GA to volunteer with a non-profit organization that collected donated medical equipment for low-income individuals living with disabilities, and spent a summer with Community Catalyst as a Health Equity intern. In her free time Jessica likes to explore trails, climb trees and rocks, experiment in the kitchen, and engage in thoughtful conversations with BU Net Impact and Students For a Just and Sustainable Future (aka Divest BU).
Luisa can be reached by e-mail at lusilva@bu.edu
Amanda Brancato
Amanda is part of the the Public Relations Team for Branch Out and the Commmunity Service Center; she is Branch Out's designated "Story Teller". Amanda is a freshman in the College of General Studies planning to join the College of Communication to study Public Relations or Journalism; she also plans to minor in Psychology. Amanda helps with upkeep of the Community Service Center website and she will be working with a team of some of our other members of Branch Out to organize a poster contest PR project for this year's Green Up Day. Outside of the CSC Amanda is an Admissions Ambassador and a member of BU Outing Club. Amanda enjoys hiking, running, and swimming, and loves being outside.
Amanda can be reached by e-mail at brancato@bu.edu