Enqi Yang 

GUAM

Short-term Fellow
June 2026 – August 2026

Mentored by: Michael Dueñas, Fisheries Supervisor, Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR)

Growing up in Guam sparked Enqi Yang's lifelong passion for the island's marine environment and fisheries. Through the Navigating Home Fellowship, he is gaining practical experience with the Guam Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, where he is learning how fisheries science, community outreach, and resource management work together to support sustainable marine ecosystems.

By participating in fisheries surveys, biological research, public education, and youth outreach, Enqi is developing the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges facing Guam's fisheries. The fellowship has strengthened his commitment to pursuing graduate studies in Marine Resource Economics, with the goal of returning to Guam equipped to help develop science-based solutions that support local fishermen, protect marine resources, and ensure future generations can continue to rely on and enjoy the island's ocean.

GUAM
Short-term Fellow
June 2026 – August 2026

Co-Mentored by:
Kyle Mandapat, MBA, Associate Director for Communications and Community Engagement, and Maria Louella Losinio, Publications and Media Supervisor, UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant

As a Palauan born and raised in Guam, Kira was eager to give back to the community her family chose as home. After earning her bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Western Washington University, she sought opportunities to combine her passion for education with her commitment to environmental stewardship. Growing up in a culture that emphasized caring for the environment, along with her experience working in educational spaces, inspired her to apply for the Navigating Home Fellowship. She joined the Science Communication team at the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant), where she draws on her academic and professional background to promote science learning among young people on the island.

Within the fellowship, Kira supports the Science Communication team's efforts to engage the public in environmental conservation and sustainability. Her work includes developing educational programming for the Chålan Deskubre Hub, an interactive learning center providing hands-on science experiences for youth, while also contributing to Chålan Deskubre magazine, which shares educational articles and resources about Guam's ecosystems and environment. Through these initiatives, she draws on place-based education and traditional knowledge to expand children's science learning opportunities and foster deeper connections to the natural world.

Kira is committed to growing as a science communicator and supporting community-based learning. By exploring educational programs through a science lens and honoring her heritage, she aims to inspire young people and contribute to the island's future.

GUAM

Short-term Fellow
March 2026 - May 2026
Mentored by:
Roland Quitugua, M.S., C.A. Extension Agent II/Instructor of Horticulture UOG College of Natural and Applied Sciences

As a short-term fellow with the Navigating Home Fellowship, Nicholas Camacho is contributing applied plant science expertise toward island-based agricultural and ecological restoration efforts. Born and raised in Barrigada, Guam, and a graduate of JFK High School (Class of 2018), he completed his undergraduate and master’s studies in biology with a focus on plant biology at Stanford University before working in large-scale agriculture in the United States.

Through his placement with the Guam Restoration of Watershed Grow Initiative under the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, he is supporting research on velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) as a nitrogen-fixing cover crop to rehabilitate degraded soils in southern Guam. His work focuses on cultivation, adaptation, and plant selection to strengthen soil restoration tools for local ecosystems.

Camacho’s fellowship has reinforced his commitment to regenerative agriculture and community-centered science. He aims to pursue a PhD in agriculture in the region and eventually return to Guam to help build sustainable, value-added agricultural systems that strengthen food security and island resilience.

GUAM

Long-term Fellow | July 2025 – July 2026
Mentored by: Christopher Rosario, Guam Dept. of Agriculture

Preya Camacho, from Ipan, Talo’fo’fo’, returned to Guam after earning her bachelor’s degree in earth and environmental science from Arizona State University in May 2025. Motivated to apply her training locally, she joined the Navigating Home Fellowship as a long-term fellow and was placed with the Guam Department of Agriculture’s Biosecurity Division.

As a fellow, Preya supports efforts to protect Guam’s environment by monitoring and treating invasive species such as the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ants, palm weevils, and fruit flies. Her work includes trap checks, lure changes, pesticide treatments, data collection, and assisting entomologists with species identification, all contributing to stronger biosecurity and conservation efforts across the island.

GUAM

Long-term Fellow
April 2025 - 2026
Mentored by:
Elizabeth DeGrange, Guam Environmental Protection Agency

Miguel Cordero, born and raised in Dededo, channels his love for science into making a real difference in his community through his fellowship with NSF Navigating Home. After earning a biology degree from St. John’s University and a master’s in biotechnology from Northeastern University, Cordero returned to Guam with a clear goal: to apply his scientific skills to protect the environment and public health.

GUAM

Long-term fellow
September 2023 - 2024
Mentored by Chelsa Muña, Guam Department of Agriculture

Katelyn Anderson's participation in the Guam NSF Navigating Home Program at the Guam Department of Agriculture exemplifies the transformative power of hands-on, community-based research. As a fellow, Katelyn was tasked with contributing to projects vital to the island's environmental sustainability, allowing her to apply her academic knowledge to real-world challenges.

GUAM

Long-term Fellow
March 2025 – 2026
Mentored by: Emily Wendte, Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace & Innovation Hub

Born and raised CHamoru, Justin Cruz returned to Guam as a Navigating Fellow with a sense of purpose: to help find solutions to some of the island’s pressing problems. Aside from the ongoing issue of brain drain, which weakens the island’s workforce capacity, Cruz pointed to increasing waste generation, with plastics and other post-consumer products often ending up in the landfill due to limited recycling infrastructure.

GUAM

Short-term Fellow: Summer 2022
Mentored by Rebecca Respicio, Guam Energy Office

Growing up on Guam, Morgan Leon Guerrero felt the energy of her island and her people all around her.  It is no wonder she would be drawn to work in the renewable energy sector.

Before her participation in the Navigating Home program, Leon Guerrero was deeply engaged in her academic pursuits. "Before Navigating Home, I was pursuing my Master of Sustainability Solutions where I focused on renewable energy policy and programs," she stated. This academic background provided a strong theoretical foundation, but she sought opportunities for real-world application on Guam.