This new initiative will spotlight the remarkable efforts, impacts, and contributions of students, staff, alumni, and affiliated organizations connected to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Conservation and Environmental Science (CES) program.
- Feature of the Week: Xiayou (Xia) Lowery, Green & Healthy Schools Program Coordinator (WDNR) CES Alumnus 2024
Feature of the Week: Xiayou (Xia) Lowery, Green & Healthy Schools Program Coordinator (WDNR) CES Alumnus 2024
Awareness is one of the greatest catalysts for change and a powerful motivator to make a meaningful impact on others and the world. Xia’s interest in environmental matters and sense of community involvement was sparked during her high school years. At the age of sixteen, she enrolled in her first environmental science class for college credit. This class revealed to Xia critical contemporary issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution; the shocking discussions about topics such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and global warming left Xia disillusioned by an education background that primarily focused on historical events rather than addressing these contemporary environmental challenges. Throughout high school and college, Xia gained a unique perspective from working with senior citizens’ care centers and caregiving. She started as an activity assistant in a senior living center, where she became certified as a dementia specialist. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked in the COVID unit, which was one of the most challenging periods of her life, as she navigated the emotional toll of losing residents while providing care and companionship. She became aware of the value of life itself, and the meaning of contributing to the world we live in. These educational and emotional developments helped mature Xia’s principles and passion for environmental advocacy in education; She became dedicated to equipping future generations with knowledge of pressing issues while highlighting the importance of community service and making meaningful contributions during her life.
Transforming disconnection into connection can be challenging, but for Xia, this effort has been crucial in establishing herself as an impactful leader. Xia’s first two years of college at UWM were entirely online, as the world was grappling with the pandemic. Her sense of detachment and disconnection during these isolated times motivated her to seek avenues to negate these feelings. Over the next few years, Xia immersed herself in various community environmental activities, soon establishing herself as a standout individual driven to action in environmental initiatives–both on and off campus. She became the UWM Conservation Club president, leading various events including an annual clothing swap, student socials, and excursions to Milwaukee Recycling and the Jones Island water treatment facility. She also organized volunteer opportunities with Milwaukee Riverkeepers and the River Revitalization Foundation (now Restoring Lands). Xia organized student working groups that concentrated on smaller projects, such as developing a GIS map for CES students, and submitting a UWM Green Fund application for interpretive signs in Downer Woods. Throughout her success, she became a part of the UWM Green Fund Committee and vice president, helping promote and implement other Green Fund projects. One of Xia’s outstanding achievements with the Conservation Club was adopting a state wildlife area at Big Muskego Lake in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), ensuring a lasting legacy for the club (in fact, you can read about students utilizing this area in a capstone project in the previous FOTW!).
All of Xia’s dedication and accomplishments throughout her time in academics did not go unnoticed. Xia was honored as the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) Student of the Year in 2023, an acknowledgment for outstanding individual(s) and their contributions to the field of environmental education. Xia’s accomplishments also culminated in her receiving the 2024 UWM Agent of Change Award, recognizing her contributions to the university community.
Conservation and environmental science emphasize the interconnectedness of local and global issues. Understanding how community challenges link to broader phenomena highlights the need for an integrated approach to sustainability. Xia has been able to develop these engagement experiences at a local to global level. Locally, at UWM, Xia conducted research under Dr. John Berges on microplastic pathways into water systems via a small invertebrate in Lake Michigan. Regionally, Xia participated and then volunteered in UWM alternative spring break trips exploring other parts of the USA. Globally, Xia spent a summer in Hawaii as a Global Treks Research Assistant analyzing native plant species, contributing to the Global Treks Hawaii Travel Guide with an impressive collection of photos and plant descriptions. One of the most transformative experiences in Xia’s life was participating in a Hillel Milwaukee student trip as a leader to Israel and Palestine in 2023, where she engaged with diverse perspectives on complex global issues. The purpose of this trip was to learn about the conflicts in that region and provide accurate information to the campus community. Xia states that “This experience was life changing in that I was truly able to understand a globally misunderstood conflict by speaking with individuals from all perspectives and backgrounds to better understand the country and people as a whole.”
Xia Lowery’s journey from the UWM Conservation and Environmental Science (CES) program to her current role with the WDNR is a testament to her passion for environmental advocacy and personal growth. Her transformative experience began with the Natural Resource Foundation Diversity in Conservation Internship, an internship promoted by the CES program. Xia was paired with Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin (GHS) and tasked with redeveloping a sustainability game for students. This internship not only ignited her love for the project but also paved the way for her part-time position at GHS when her boss transitioned out and recommended Xia for the coordinator position, allowing her to continue her impactful work.
As a GHS Program Coordinator, Xia works directly with K-12 schools across Wisconsin, providing resources and technical assistance to implement sustainable projects, plans, and policies. She collaborates with education-focused and nonprofit organizations to connect schools with local partners. Additionally, she engages with state agencies like DPI, DHS, and OSCE to enhance school sustainability efforts. Xia actively participates in events and conferences sharing insights and experiences. In her current position, Xia uses her skills from the CES program, such as ArcGIS to map and highlight school participation in their program. In her CES capstone course, she learned the value of teamwork and project collaboration. She explains that the course was “directly applicable to the teamwork I am currently involved in and was helpful in understanding the importance of communication, goal setting, and deadlines.”
Currently, Xia is also pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Conservation at UW-Madison, where she is engaged in a significant final project with The Endangered Wildlife Trust in South Africa, set to take place this summer. Throughout her journey of personal and academic growth, Xia emphasizes the profound impact of her mother’s unwavering support. Although her mother attended UWM, she discontinued her studies to raise Xia. Despite this, she instilled the values of education throughout Xia’s life and continues to encourage her to strive for success and fulfill her potential.
In a different world of Xia’s life, she became involved in pageantry, winning Miss Iowa Earth 2023. She used this empowerment as a way of developing herself, but even more important was finding a purpose by promoting sustainability initiatives in her community, including organizing makeup packaging collection drives through partnerships with organizations like Terracycle and Nordstrom.
Xia, radiant both inside and out, is on her way to creating a lasting legacy that enhances the beauty of our world.
Intrigued? For more information or contact information, check out UWM’s CES Program: uwm.edu/ces
Written by Zelenda Koch
