Through her coursework, Darel became interested in the social and economic dimensions of sustainable development, the role culture plays in behavior change, and the ways this knowledge might be used to improve the symbiosis between humanity and nature. Darel has invested herself into campus life in the area of public service, an arena in which she has proved herself as an eager self-starter and strong leader.
Darel has continued in her endeavors to raise environmental consciousness at Stanford. Last spring, she brought a group of African-American students from Stanford to experience the natural beauty of Yosemite on an all-expenses-paid camping trip, entitled Nature Speaks. The trip focused on connecting people in the Black community to the outdoors, to build environmental empathy within the community, and to connect with nature. Darel has culminated her efforts through her Capstone Project she has titled “Earth in Color.” She is working with diverse community centers across campus, the Office of Sustainability and the Students for Sustainable Stanford to encourage broader participation in the campus sustainability dialogue and help implement a number of initiatives.