Heaven Sauza
San Clemente
Summary
Mastery experience in conducting mock environmental assessments, analyzing judicial decisions on policy, and developing conservation strategies for endangered species. Trained in ArcGIS mapping, stakeholder analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration with nonprofit partners including Community Lands in Community Hands. I am passionate about achieving sustainable urban development through community engagement and science-based planning with emphasis on ecological resilience.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Intern
Kizh Nation
01.2025 - Current
- Simplified complex regulatory correspondence by translating CEQA-related communications from state and local agencies into accessible summaries to support tribal leadership in informed decision-making.
- Researched CEQA statutes and case law to contextualize agency letters and identify potential implications for tribal land use.
Paraeducator, Special Education
Capistrano Unified School District
03.2022 - Current
- Facilitated academic and behavioral support for 30+ students by coordinating with educators and support staff to help students progress towards individualized goals that promote long-term self-sufficiency.
- Enhanced student engagement across six subjects by adapting instructional strategies to diverse learning styles to support individualized learning and boost student confidence.
- Assisted with program evaluation and decision-making by tracking student progress and providing targeted feedback to Educational Specialists to ensure responsive educational planning.
Park Aide
California Parks and Recreation
05.2019 - 05.2022
- Promoted environmental stewardship among hundreds of daily visitors by educating them on conservation policies and native species protection to foster public awareness.
- Reinforced compliance with state conservation regulations by monitoring ecological conditions during routine patrols to safeguard critical habitats and support ecosystem longevity.
Student Intern
UC Irvine Arboretum
06.2018 - 12.2018
- Contributed to native species conservation initiatives by conducting environmental assessments of arboretum ecosystems to inform ecological restoration efforts.
- Strengthened long-term preservation strategies by collecting and cataloging hundreds of plant specimens to support ecological planning and species inventory development.
- Supported biodiversity research and monitoring by ensuring accurate documentation of regional flora to strengthen data integrity and inform scientific analysis.
Education
Master of Science - Environmental Policy And Management
University of Denver
Denver, CO03-2024
Bachelor of Arts - Urban Studies
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA12-2018
Skills
- Environmental impact analysis
- Environmental policy evaluation
- Habitat restoration
- Evaluation of environmental data trends
- Analytical writing expertise
- Foundational skills in ArcGIS
- Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Proficient in time management and planning
- Effective team engagement
- Flexible problem-solving
Timeline
Intern
Kizh Nation
01.2025 - Current
Paraeducator, Special Education
Capistrano Unified School District
03.2022 - Current
Park Aide
California Parks and Recreation
05.2019 - 05.2022
Student Intern
UC Irvine Arboretum
06.2018 - 12.2018
Master of Science - Environmental Policy And Management
University of Denver
Bachelor of Arts - Urban Studies
University of California, Irvine
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