REGINA LOAYZA

 Regina Loayza

School of Environment and Natural Resources
Environmental Policy and Decision Making - Governance 
New Albany, OH 

Environmental Policy and Decision Making major Regina Loayza, a first-generation college student, is driven to make a positive difference for others. According to her nominator, “Regina is passionate about social and climate justice, and, in Regina’s own words: creating a more sustainable world and ensuring those historically farthest from justice are closest to the solution process.”

She has taken this passion from roles with Ohio State’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) to the Federal Government with an internship with a U.S. Senate committee; from working on a farm to serving as the executive director of the Association of Big Ten Students (ABTS); from immigration advocacy in her current internship at the Law Office of Kevin Zamora to a TedX Ohio State talk about climate justice. She began with USG as a representative of the Sustainability Committee, where she spearheaded initiatives to expand recycling awareness and accessibility on campus, promoting inclusivity through multilingual educational materials. In her most recent position, deputy director of Community Relations, she has fostered collaboration and organized events such as the Student Organization Leadership Dinner.

Regina participated in internships with the Ohio Governor’s Office, Columbus Mayor’s Office, City of Columbus City Council, and the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in Washington, DC. Her time in the nation’s capital gave her a sense of independence and resourcefulness. She developed her research and analytical skills to better understand key stakeholders and interest groups, learning to evaluate policy proposals and offer evidence-based recommendations. She collaborated with senior staff to draft briefing materials for committee hearings. She also gained diverse work experiences beyond internships, ranging from legal research and advocacy to hands-on farming at Dr. Chris Ratcliff’s farm. Her work on the farm was her first experience with manual labor and sustainable agriculture and gave her a renewed respect “for the hard work we often take for granted.” On campus, she was a student employee of the SENR Career Services office and a research assistant in the Dr. Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration.

With Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. she served as the chapter recruitment and retention advisor, organizing events to build camaraderie and increase interest in the sorority. As executive director of the Association of Big Ten Students, she helped welcome four new universities to the Big Ten Conference in 2024 and maintained a strong connection to external entities, such as the Big Ten Conference.

Regina identifies Lucia Hadella as an important mentor, as both a supervisor and advisor, encouraging perseverance and resilience.

Regina plans to attend law school with the goal of becoming an environmental law specialist who mentors students to help them advocate for social justice and environmental sustainability.

Service, involvement, and accolades: Ohio State Undergraduate Student Government, deputy director of community relations, senior director of allocations and issues | SPHINX Senior Honorary | 2023 Homecoming Court | 2023 CFAES Internship Award | Dean’s List