Alicia Aldrich - 2024 Master in Environmental Management Graduate, Western colorado university

Ali Aldrich graduated from Western Colorado University’s Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program in the Integrative & Public Lands Management track. She received her undergraduate degree in geography at Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan. Her WARM-supported project work was at the Pitch Mine Reclamation site in Sargents, Colorado where she monitored water quality and beaver dams as a natural system to help improve water quality. She also worked with the USFS-GMUG surveying abandoned mines for their Abandoned Mine Lands program. Ali is now employed as an Abandoned Mine Lands Contract Employee at the State of Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality.

Mathew Berna - 2024 Master in Environmental Management Graduate, Western colorado university

Mathew Berna is a graduate of the Masters in Environmental Management (MEM) program at Western Colorado University (WCU), originally from Perkins, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate degree from WCU in wildlife biology. As an undergraduate student, Mathew worked with WARM graduate student Nate Gore studying biochar's ability to remove contaminants from the Ben Butler mine soil. He worked at the Pitch Mine Reclamation Project in Sargents monitoring water quality and studying other site remediation techniques. For his MEM project, Mathew created a Sustainability Plan as the Environmental Specialist at Capstone Copper’s Pinto Valley Mine, and is now a studies specialist with BHP Legacy Assets in Tucson, Arizona, working to manage mine closure and remediation projects on sites across BHP's North American portfolio.

Julia iovino - 2024 Master in Environmental Management Graduate, Western colorado university

Jules is a graduate of the Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) program at Western Colorado University and is originally from Long Island, New York. She finished her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology at the University of Delaware in May 2022 and worked as an educator at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. She worked with WARM on habitat management on abandoned mine lands in partnership with the USFS - GMUG office in Gunnison, Colorado.

Rebecca briesmoore, P.e. - 2023 Master in Environmental Management Graduate, Western colorado university

Rebecca Briesmoore is a graduate of the MEM program in the Global Sustainability track and served for two terms as the AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America VISTA for WARM. As a VISTA volunteer, Rebecca developed course curriculum for graduate and undergraduate mine reclamation courses hosted at Western Colorado University. She also worked with industry professionals in the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety to establish internship and fieldwork learning opportunities for interested students and supported students working with and taking classes with WARM. In addition, Rebecca oversaw the daily operations of WARM and managed the social media and outreach initiatives.

Since graduating, Rebecca has taken her civil engineering/water resources background to work as a Water Resources Engineer/Project Manager for the Colorado River District in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Nate Gore - 2021 Master in Environmental Management Graduate, Western colorado university

Nate Gore, WARM’s third Graduate Fellow, completed his Master’s project on biochar for mine restoration. His research involves treating Ben Butler Mine soils with biochar and compost to study nutrient dynamics and contaminant breakdown. He is also developing strategies for repurposing beetle-killed trees from Monarch Pass into biochar for use in reclamation projects across Colorado and beyond.

As an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with WARM, Nate supported the nonprofit’s operations, organized field opportunities for graduate students, and helped establish an internship at the Pitch Mine Reclamation Area. After graduating in May 2021, he pursued a career in ecosystem restoration and conservation. Nate now teaches undergraduate classes at Western Colorado University, including the Introduction to Mine Reclamation class for upper-level students.

TODD JESSE - 2020 MASTER IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GRADUATE, WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY

Todd Jesse's Master’s project in Environmental Management advanced research at WARM’s Ben Butler Mine pilot site. His work focused on analyzing soil and water data, including MWMP leachate, ABA, XRF, and field pH/conductivity, to inform mine closure actions and improve watershed health. He also investigated denuded areas to understand metal movement downslope, fulfilling a request by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS).

Todd explored the potential of biochar as a mine waste amendment, finding that while it adsorbs metals and improves soil structure, its effectiveness in neutralizing pH and reducing metal concentrations is limited compared to limestone. However, combining biochar with limestone shows promise for improving mine site reclamation.

After graduation, Todd worked as an Environmental Manager at Ouray Silver Mines before joining the Colorado DRMS in 2023.

Elizabeth Hartson - 2019 Master in Environmental Management Graduate, Western colorado university

Elizabeth Hartson’s Master in Environmental Management project established WARM’s foundation as an educational nonprofit, forming its board of directors, securing 501(c)(3) status, obtaining initial funding, and conducting a site assessment at the Ben Butler Mine. She developed a geochemical analysis plan, initiated monitoring activities, and created a preliminary remediation plan reviewed by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety.

Now an environmental scientist with Freeport-McMoRan, Elizabeth specializes in waste characterization and management. She leads environmental training, conducts audits, and collaborates with site teams to ensure compliance. She also serves on the site Safety Leadership, Crisis Management, and Emergency Response Teams.