Earth Systems student Erin Gaines is the 2007 recipient of the William W. Whitley Citizen Scholar Prize

Erin Gaines (BS '09) was named the 2007 Whitley Scholar for her work and efforts in sustainable agriculture and personal sustainability, both on Stanford Campus and in the community. Erin is currently working as the Sustainable Foods Coordinator for Stanford Dining Services, which allows her to continue her awareness and outreach efforts on campus.

Erin received her BS in Earth Systems with a focus in environmental economics and agriculture. During her undergraduate years, Erin received an Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Through this scholarship, Erin was able to perform research with NOAA on the socioeconomic impacts of private boating in the Channel Islands. During the winter of 2006, Erin attended the Stanford in Washington program, where she interned with Environmental Defense. During her time with Environmental Defense's Oceans Program, Erin researched past and present fisheries legislation and funding. She also promoted fisheries conservation through outreach efforts. Erin spent a semester abroad in Panama through the School for International Training. While in Panama, Erin worked on a research project entitled "Community Based Management of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in Kuna Yala, Panama."

While at Stanford, Erin was a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the Introduction to Earth Systems course. She worked with a team of student TAs to design problem sets, exams, and field trips for a class of over 100 undergraduates. She was also the President and a Project Leader for Students for a Sustainable Stanford, where she led efforts to coordinate campus sustainability initiatives with students, faculty, and staff. As well, Erin was a Docent educator at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.