The Future of SMA: Young
Young Professional Alicia Gibson-Cooper
I graduated with honors from Eastern Michigan
University (EMU) in August of 2022. I received my bach-
elor's degree in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science
and Society, with a concentration in Environment and
Society/Political Science/Law and a minor in Plant
Biology. While at EMU, I created an ecological resto-
ration plan for the campus, and I worked as a student
lab technician in the Biology department, studying
the growth effects/biomass changes of rhizobia bac-
teria on plants. I am elated to have also completed
and attained the Certified Nonprofit Professional
(CNP) credential in June 2020. My long-term goal is
to serve the public as an environmental attorney.
Growing up in Detroit, Michigan allowed me access
to experience urban city living. As a child, I cherished
plants, specifically trees, skunk cabbage, and milk
thistle. I learned valuable lessons from the teachers
in the middle school I attended in Detroit, Barbour
Magnet Middle School. They taught me the importance
of STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Math)
studies and how a STEM field career could be comple-
mentary to community service and civic engagement.
One of my favorite pastimes is to go on nature
walks and identify trees. I have three favorite tree
species: sassafras (Sassafras albidum), tamarack (Larix
laricina), and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). My
future plans include founding a non-profit that will
assist those in the process of transition and evolu-
tion as I was thirteen years ago when I entered the
30 CityTREES
