Nina Finley ’12: Investing in Rainforest Communities

One big takeaway for Nina Finley ’12 from her time at SAAS? “You always have something to gain by trying something new,” she reflects. That understanding served her well at SAAS, where she participated in a wide variety of experiences, including Ultimate Frisbee, Bee Club, Advanced Acting, and Improv, among others. Some of her favorite memories include a swamp boat tour on the NOLA trip, dog sledding across a frozen lake on the Senior Yukon Trip, and magical realism art projects. 

After SAAS, Nina’s academic journey took her to Ohio State University, a year abroad in Ecuador and Brazil, to Whitman College, and then a year traveling and researching on a Watson Fellowship. Nina then earned a master’s degree in One Health at the Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, as well as a degree in creative nonfiction writing at the University of East Anglia, both on a Marshall Scholarship. Now, she is pursuing a PhD in infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, studying the role of forests and rice farming in schistosomiasis transmission. 

In her current role as research manager at Health In Harmony, Nina supports Indigenous and local communities as they combat climate change and protect rainforests. “We recognize that Indigenous peoples and local communities are the experts in how to protect their ecosystems and stop climate change. We directly transfer millions of dollars to rainforest communities. As the research manager, it’s my job to design and implement studies to understand how investing in communities impacts carbon, biodiversity, and human thriving. It’s an honor to do this work.”