Shay spent her childhood surrounded by nature in a farming community on the California coast. There, she developed a passion for food justice and connecting with the environment around her.

Her community struggled with the impacts of climate change and contaminated water. After joining Heirs To Our Ocean, Shay was empowered with the tools to turn her personal experiences with human impacts of environmental degradation and her love of the natural world into advocacy.

Now a student at U.C Davis, Shay is studying wildlife sciences and is planning to pursue research and conservation as a career path. Shay’s ongoing journey with H2OO is a crucial part of her life path today and being a part of a global family of Heirs is a constant source of support, inspiration, and passion.