Hello, my name is Alix Glaenzer.

Since I was young, I have believed that my purpose on this planet is simple and demanding: to protect the Earth and the wildlife that call it home.

Humans will only thrive when they learn to live intelligently within ecological limits, and this conviction has guided every academic, professional, and personal choice I have made.

I grew up between France and the United States, moving between two cultures and two languages, and watching my parents build a life in a new country from almost nothing.

They taught me that comfort is earned, not given, and that passion is the most reliable compass for a meaningful life.

From an early age, I felt a constant pull towards wildlife, the planet, and questions of justice. That sense of purpose only grew stronger as I began to understand how environmental harm and inequality are intertwined.

Despite educational setbacks and detours, my commitment to this work never wavered.

That determination led me to pursue a B.S. in Zoology through Oregon State University’s rigorous online program, where I completed challenging science courses largely on my own.

Teaching myself advanced material without a traditional classroom forced me to build resilience, discipline, and the belief that intelligence is not fixed; it is built through effort and love for what you do.

Outside the classroom, I’ve tried to live my values with my hands in the work, starting close to home.

I’ve worked on community‑based urban reforestation projects in the DMV area and at the Smithsonian National Zoo across multiple departments, connecting daily care for animals with broader conservation and education efforts.

Beyond my local community, I have cared for wildlife at sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers, including a wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica and conservation work near Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Traveling to places like Kerala, India, has allowed me to see animals injured by cars, trapped by fragmented habitats, and stressed by tourism and development, and has shown me how unevenly climate change and environmental degradation fall on different communities; proof that policy, science, and ethics are not abstract, but lived realities for people and ecosystems around the world.

These experiences are why I am taking the next step: I was honored to have been accepted to, and am going to attend the Master of Science in Environment & International Affairs (MS‑EIA) at Georgetown University.

This program is jointly offered by Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, ranked the number one international relations school in the world in 2024, and the Earth Commons Institute, making it one of the most powerful places on Earth to study the intersection of environment and global affairs.

The MS‑EIA integrates environmental science with international relations and policy, and is designed specifically to train people who want to shape global environmental policy and promote transnational collaboration.

​​The MS‑EIA curriculum will give me scientific and analytical tools, a grounding in environmental justice, and practical skills through a real‑world capstone consulting project in environmental policy.

It is exactly the training I need to turn my lifelong passion for wildlife and planetary health into a concrete, global impact.

My long‑term goal is not only to complete this master’s degree, but to continue on to a PhD and become a trusted voice and decision‑maker in global environmental governance.

I want to help design and implement climate and biodiversity agreements, cross‑border conservation initiatives, and environmental health policies that prioritize the planet, the communities, and species that depend on it.

I want to be one of the people at the table when the world decides how seriously we will take climate change, habitat loss, and pollution, and I want to bring the perspective of someone who has held injured animals, planted trees in urban neighborhoods, and studied the science behind the headlines.

I cannot afford this next step on my own.

I don’t make this request lightly, and it comes after the encouragement of people who believe in my work and potential.

Your support will go directly toward tuition.

If you are able to contribute, you are not just helping one student earn a degree; you are investing in a lifetime of work on behalf of the Earth and its most vulnerable communities and species.

If you cannot donate, sharing this campaign with others who care about climate, conservation, and justice is also a powerful way to support my journey.

I am committed to being a voice for the voiceless, for the ecosystems and animals that cannot stand in negotiating rooms or write policy, but whose survival depends on the choices we make.

If you believe that science must inform policy,

If you believe young leaders deserve the opportunity to serve, and

If you believe education can shape a more sustainable future,

I would be deeply grateful for your support.

Additionally, if you would like, I promise to keep everyone who supports this campaign updated throughout my education and beyond: from my first day of classes, to fieldwork, to my capstone project, to the roles I take on in global environmental policy after graduation.

I want you to be able to see the impact of your generosity, not just in my life, but in the work I carry forward for the planet we all share.

From the bottom of my heart: thank you for believing that one person’s education, grounded in science, compassion, and global perspective, can help change the world.

Alix.