Meet the Fellows

2023-2024 Reducetarian Fellows

Carli Neustadt

Fordham University / Environmental Studies

Carli is a recent graduate from Fordham University with a major in environmental studies and a minor in american studies. She currently works with the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo where she supports global conservation efforts.

As a Reducetarian Fellow, Carli hopes to gain a greater understanding of the complexities of industrial farming practices and their effects on human health. Through her work, she wishes to inspire changes for individuals to integrate within their own lives and to contribute towards a healthier planet for all.

Outside of her environmental work, Carli is a freelance photographer.

Avygayl Zucker

Yeshiva University / Political Science

Avygayl is a senior at Yeshiva University, majoring in political science with a minor in philosophy. In school, Avygayl is currently serving as the president of Yeshiva University’s Beren Campus Student Government.

Avygayl is very passionate about LGBTQ rights and women’s issues, specifically within religion. Through these passions, they have come to Reducetarian with a hunger for learning about making the world a better, safer, and more sustainable place. As a Reducetarian Fellow, Avygayl hopes to hear from multiple perspectives about the food system and learn how to successfully educate and advocate for an improved world. They hope that through the Fellowship, they will be able to learn more about the nonprofit sector and bridge the gaps between organizations and local government.

In their free time, Avygayl enjoys playing guitar and piano in their band, going to comedy shows with friends, and curling up with a good book.

Cheyenne Olexa

Rutgers University / Journalism and Media Studies

Chey is a 2023 graduate from Rutgers University - New Brunswick where they majored in journalism and media studies with a minor in Korean. Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, they hope to make plant-based eating and sustainable practices more accessible to everyone. As someone who has been vegetarian for years and cares deeply about animal welfare, the environment, and health, Chey has come to the Fellowship because they believe in the Reducetarian Foundation’s mission. They seek to make plant-based options easier to access and less stigmatized in all restaurants and communities.

As a journalist, Chey has a passion for storytelling through writing and helping to educate the public on other cultures. While a career in music journalism is their goal, Chey also hopes to use their skills to fight disinformation on the climate crisis with media literacy and unbiased writing.

In their free time, Chey enjoys singing, thrifting, cooking, traveling, and playing with their cat, Wawa.

Eleanor Macagba

NYU Gallatin / Environmental and Decolonial Studies

Eleanor is a junior at New York University, where they study environmental science and decolonial studies. Raised in Brooklyn, they hope to advocate for issues of food justice and accessibility within their city, especially for low-income people of color. Currently, they work as a coordinator for The College Student Pantry, managing all student staff and operations to provide free groceries to hundreds of college students.

Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, Eleanor hopes to learn more about industrial agriculture from an environmental and legal perspective. They have a particular interest in learning about ag-gag laws, and how to maintain legal protections for whistleblowers.

In their free time, Eleanor likes reading, crocheting, going to coffee shops, and hanging out with their two cats.

Claire Bilicki

Hunter College / Environmental Studies

Claire is a junior at Hunter College pursuing a major in environmental studies, with a concentration in earth systems science. Through the Fellowship, she seeks to develop a solid toolkit to improve the lives of people and animals at every level of the food system. Originally from Milwaukee, Claire has seen the malignant effects of industrial agriculture on Wisconsin's land, water, and neighborhoods.

Claire has worked in the restaurant industry for 8+ years, which opened her eyes to the wastefulness and harm that industrial animal agriculture imposes on our society. She hopes to one day collaborate with non-profits and the EPA to ensure the way we eat is sustainable, ethical, and accessible.

Claire is an avid member of the Hunter College Greenbelt Society, a group focused on educating and empowering environmentally conscious adults through stewardship projects. She is also assisting with research on a green roof.

In her spare time, Claire enjoys dancing and reading.

Rafaela Dreyfuss

Yeshiva University / Economics

Ella is a junior at Yeshiva University pursuing a B.S. in Economics with a minor in applied mathematics. As a participant in the Reducetarian Fellowship, Ella aspires to deepen her understanding of how animal agriculture impacts our global ecosystem. She aims to explore the transformative potential of the reducetarian lifestyle in creating a positive impact on our world. Ella is excited to have the opportunity to leverage her personal passion for this lifestyle into her professional endeavors.

Beyond the Fellowship, Ella serves as a student ambassador for the Career Strategy and Professional Development Center at Yeshiva University. In addition, she dedicates her time to volunteering with on-campus clubs such as FEEDnyc and Project Start Science.

In her free time, Ella enjoys running, binging sitcoms, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Felix Ban

Drew University / Environmental Studies and Sustainability; Sociology

Felix is a senior at Drew University majoring in environmental sustainability and sociology. They work as a sociology research assistant, and are interested in the sociological implications of meat consumption. Felix cultivated their interest in environmentalism in a high school environmental science class, and have been pursuing it ever since. They are particularly interested in urban farming, and sustainably providing fresh produce to communities year-round.

Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, Felix hopes to establish themselves within the world of sustainable agribusiness, and learn how to expand access to delicious plant-based foods on a larger scale. They are very excited to meet representatives from many sectors of the sustainable agriculture industry.

Outside of the Fellowship, Felix is on the board of Drew’s Film Production Club, sings in an a capella group, and works for the university’s admissions team. They also love reading and trying out new hobbies, such as papermaking and longboarding.

Molly Mulvaney

Fordham University / Political Science; Environmental Studies

Molly is a senior at Fordham University where she is majoring in political science and environmental studies on the pre-law track. She combines her interest in these areas by taking classes in public policy and environmental justice. She is a member of Fordham’s Students for Environmental Action and Justice, Undergraduate Law Review, and Scientific Journal Club. Molly is also furthering her passion for academia and the law by working at Fordham University Law School’s Maloney Library.

As a Reducetarian Fellow, Molly hopes to deepen her knowledge of factory farming and learn practical changes that can be implemented to reduce meat consumption in her community in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In her free time, Molly enjoys exercising with her teammates on the Fordham Track and Field team, reading, and playing video games.

Jacob Benoist

NYU Gallatin / Environmental Studies for Sustainable Business Practices

Jacob is a senior at New York University studying environmental science and sustainable business with a minor in public policy and management. His professional interests include economic circularity, equitable environmentalism, and the removal of greenwashing in sustainable business efforts. His past work experiences have focused on ESG analysis, sustainable development, and ensuring healthy supply chains. A native to New York State, Jacob was inspired by the stark contrast between the natural environment of upstate and the urban environment of the city.

As a Reducetarian Fellow, Jacob is looking forward to examining the greater scientific and societal consequences of factory farming– ranging from climate impact to social externalities. Having always made an effort to reduce his animal consumption, Jacob is excited to fully understand the factory farming system, and bring awareness to its impact through his work.

In his free time, you can catch Jacob hiking, baking, and trying new restaurants around the city.

Kyla Browne

Queens College / Environmental Studies

Kyla is a senior at Macaulay Honors College at Queens College majoring in environmental studies and minoring in business and math. She enjoys the interdisciplinary nature of her studies in developing both her natural science and social science knowledge. Kyla has experience in the civic technology and public health spheres working on mapping, data visualization, data analysis, and storytelling. She hopes to use the skills she has learned inside and beyond the classroom to promote social responsibility through innovation.

Kyla is interested in investigating the complexities of the current food system, and is excited to explore how industrial animal agriculture operates within and impacts this system. She wants to encourage discussion about the broader environmental impact of our current food system, and feels hopeful for the future.

Outside of her academic endeavors, Kyla enjoys thrifting, crocheting, learning sewing skills, and searching for unique vegan restaurants and products to try.

Toodashwarie Singh

York College / Environmental Economics; Environmental Health Science

Toodashwarie is a senior at CUNY York College, where she is pursuing a B.S. in environmental health science and economics with a concentration in environmental economics. She has participated in various environmental research programs at York College. Her career interests include sustainability on a broad spectrum, environmental stewardship, and economic policies.

Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, Toodashwarie hopes to learn more about the intersection between environmental issues and the large-scale raising of animals for food.

Toodashwarie is from Queens. In her free time, she enjoys writing, reading, baking and exploring nature

Shertaz Chowdhury

Columbia University /Comparative Literature

Sher graduated from Baruch College with a dual degree in english and psychology, and is currently pursuing a masters degree in english and comparative literature at Columbia University.

Growing up in Bangladesh, Sher did not have access to many sustainable products. One of her priorities during the Reducetarian Fellowship is to improve accessibility to sustainable products, especially in lower income communities where such products are typically scarce.

After completing her masters degree, Sher hopes to attend law school in order to further contribute to environmental policies and laws whilst simultaneously platforming efforts to help cultivate a more sustainable environment.

Sher is a meat minimalist at the moment, but she plans on transitioning into a vegan lifestyle by the end of the fellowship. During her free time, she enjoys baking, playing with her cats, and reading murder mysteries.

Vivian Luo

Queens College / Graphic Design

Vivian is a senior at CUNY Queens College pursuing a major in graphic design with a minor in art history. Her current career interests involve exploring sustainability by design.

As a Reducetarian Fellow, Vivian hopes to learn more about the intersectional common points between sustainability in design and sustainability in the food system, specifically in the reduction of industrial animal farming.

In her free time, Vivian enjoys gallery hopping with a matcha latte, visiting coffee shops, and exploring art book fairs around the city.

Stephanie Frias

Baruch College / Public Affairs

Stephanie is a sophomore at Baruch College, pursuing a B.S in public affairs with a minor in history. She currently works as a library page at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, where her responsibilities include examining and surveying items such as artifacts and paintings.

A combination of Stephanie’s experiences in life, school, and work has inspired her to become an advocate for a sustainable world. Growing up she saw how food systems disproportionately affected low-income neighborhoods, and how factory farming negatively affects the environment. These experiences fueled her passion for environmental justice. Stephanie believes that community engagement and education are key factors for building a world where everyone has access to cleaner air and healthier options. Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, Stephanie hopes to gain the experience to integrate what she learns into environmental policy, and fight against environmental racism.

In her spare time Stephanie enjoys reading, drawing, watching movies, and yoga.

Maria Molano

Queens College /Sociology

Maria is a senior at Queens College, where she is majoring in sociology with a minor in data analytics. Previously, Maria was majoring in computer science. She changed her trajectory in order to gain an understanding of human behavior and be able to place it in a broader social context.

As a Reducetarian Fellow, Maria hopes to explore ways to reduce consumption of animal products, as well as to promote the veganization of staple foods and dishes from a variety of cuisines and cultures.

Maria is from Queens. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two cats Kiwi and Berry, and eventually hopes to grow her cat fruit salad family.

Laura Savitsky

Montclair State University / Sociology

Laura is a recent graduate from Montclair State University, where she received her degree in sociology with a minor in psychology. While in school, she took various classes about social issues that persist in the U.S. and that jeopardize low-income community health. Having also worked in a food pantry, Laura has seen how a plant-based lifestyle is not easily accessible to all.

Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, Laura is eager to learn about avenues for making plant-based eating a potential lifestyle change for those struggling financially. She is also interested in expanding her knowledge on factory farming and its damaging impact on the planet. She wants to help protect Earth, as this is an issue that affects us all.

In her free time, Laura enjoys traveling, having spent her junior spring semester at Trinity College in Dublin. She also loves making music with friends and visiting cafes.

Joseph Torres

Hunter College /Media Studies

Joseph is a recent graduate of Hunter College, where he was majoring in media studies with a minor in english. He has a passion for creating, mainly in the realms of filmmaking and graphic design. He also has an interest in digital marketing. Joseph is currently putting together a promotional video for a BMCC program and preparing for an internship with the Center for Ethnic, Racial and Religious Understanding. Through the Reducetarian Fellowship, Joseph hopes to learn more about advocating for the protection of animals.

Joseph is from the Bronx. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, watching YouTube, and playing video games. Joseph hopes to do some traveling in the future, both in and outside of the country.

Erin Seidman

Fordham University /Math; Music

Erin is a junior at Fordham University, where she studies applied math and music. As a Reducetarian Fellow, Erin hopes to pursue a career through which she can use her analytical skills to preserve the environment and support humane treatment of animals. She hopes to eventually work with organizations that make vegetarian and vegan options more readily available and that break down stigmas around the plant-based lifestyle.

Outside of classes and the Fellowship, Erin sings in and serves as vice president of the University Choir. She also loves crocheting and taking walks with friends.