Ava is a PhD student in Environmental Science, Studies, and Policy at the University of Oregon, with a graduate certificate in Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies. Their research considers the intersections of white supremacy, settler colonialism, and American environmentalism. Prior to their doctoral work, Ava earned a B.A. in American Studies with departmental citation from the University of California, Berkeley. Their undergraduate research examined the image of the Asian woman in the white American imaginary as mediated by fetish pornography and U.S. militarism.

At UO, Ava is a member of Dr. Sarah Wald’s Environmental Justice and Storytelling Lab. They have worked as a research assistant for the Tierra Viva Collaborative and the Convergence to Accelerate Research on Biological Sequestration, in collaboration with the Coquille Indian Tribe. Ava has also held teaching appointments in the Composition and Environmental Studies programs at UO, as well as in the American Studies program at UC Berkeley. In these roles, as well as in their experience as a K-12 educator, they prioritize student empowerment, land-based pedagogy, and justice-oriented teaching.

Outside of work, Ava enjoys sewing, climbing trees, knitting, oversalting their food, and jumping into cold water. In a past life, they were a creative writer, with work published in The Offing, The Secret History of America, Vision & Voice, Wylde Magazine, by Roost Books, and on Archive of Our Own.

To reach Ava, email them at avaolson [at] uoregon [dot] edu.