Christine Hrenya

Christine has been involved firsthand in education for as long as she can remember - first as a K-Ph.D. student for over two decades, then as an engineering professor at the University of Colorado for over two decades. Her passion for science and the good that it can do has led her to pursue consulting in retirement, where her focus is on training the next generation of scientists to effectively communicate technical topics to non-experts.

Outside of work, Christine has always been in awe of and inspired by nature and its systems, from nurturing her own backyard ecosystem to her frequent hiking and cycling trips to local mountain trails, Yellowstone, and beyond. Traveling around the world to places like Costa Rica, Galápagos Islands, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, Iceland, and Easter Island has exposed her to the beauty and diversity of native flora and fauna, as well as its fragility.

When first introduced to the organization by an EPI alumni, Christine immediately gravitated toward its blending of her professional and personal passions - inspiring the next generation of conservation scientists via inquiry-based methods performed in remote locations. She is a firm believer that travel beyond tourism - engaging meaningfully with locals in communities different than our own - is essential to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. Christine is grateful for the opportunity to bring her experience as an educator, scientist, and principal investigator to the EPI Board of Directors.