Senior Honors Thesis Grant Recipient: Alyssa Gao '20

The Rockefeller Center Senior Honors Thesis Grants program provides funding of up to $1,000 for undergraduate students writing a senior honors thesis in the social sciences.

Alyssa Gao, a member of the Class of 2020, is from Chicago, Illinois, pursuing a major in Environmental Studies and minors in Public Policy and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.

Gao was inspired to write a thesis during her internship at the Brookings Institution, where she conducted research on transparency, accountability, and participation efforts in the natural resource sector. Her thesis will examine the diversity policies and practices of leading environmental advocacy organizations in Washington, D.C.

Through her thesis, Alyssa hopes to learn how institutions can empower people from different backgrounds to work towards a more sustainable future. At Dartmouth, she has served as a Women in Science Project Intern and as a research assistant for the Public Service Legacy Project. Outside of research, Alyssa is actively involved in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, the Dartmouth Law Journal, and the Sexual Violence Prevention Project. She also spearheaded the development of an annual Intercollegiate Sustainability Summit. Advisor:  Michael Cox