June brings us a new class of summer fellows – a highly educated and motivated group of young people who will immerse themselves in N.C. Sierra Club’s day-to-day work.
As with last year’s fellows program, we’ll ask them to focus their experience on what makes the Sierra Club unique among our environmental brethren: our Outings program.
We believe that the most effective advocacy is rooted in personal connection, so we will ask all three fellows to become certified Sierra Club Outings leaders, and to design and lead outings based on an environmental issue that's meaningful to them.
Please welcome Luke, Genesis and Kierra!
Luke Bernsen
I'm a masters of environmental management student at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, where I’m concentrating in energy economics and policy. I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and I grew up with an avid love for the outdoors. I would frequent the many parks and trails in the region with my grandparents, who were Sierra Club members themselves.
Before Duke, I earned my bachelor’s degree in economics and sustainability from Xavier University in 2025. I bring experience working for the Environmental Protection Agency in its acquisition division to support water quality research. I also worked in policy design for the cities of Cincinnati and Raleigh. These experiences showed me the types of environmental work being done across institutions, and I'm eager to apply this knowledge at the state level.
This summer, I’m looking forward to supporting the N.C. Sierra Club in its campaign for climate change legislation and community outreach, where I hope to gain valuable skills in policy and engagement. I am especially excited to help in advocacy surrounding clean energy legislation. You can find me based in the Raleigh area walking my dog Blu or having a meal out.
Genesis Ibrahim-Balogun
I’m from Fontana, California, and a proud recent graduate of the illustrious North Carolina A&T State University. I earned my bachelors degree in agriculture and environmental systems with a concentration in environmental studies.
A&T fueled my passion for water and environmental justice through internships and undergraduate research. Internships introduced me to civil processes, community injustice and collaborating with practitioners. My research included crafting a city tree canopy plan that focused on drought tolerance and carbon sequestration, using technology to evaluate irrigation systems and gaining community perceptions on nature-based solutions. On campus, I conducted research on physicochemical water quality parameters and compared long-term water quality index values.
All these experiences have left me wanting to make a large impact on hydrology in America and Nigeria, which is my father’s homeland. In the fall, I will be starting my master’s in sustainable science at Columbia University.
I am thrilled to be a fellow this summer at the N.C. Sierra Club, because I am able to tie action and research together for something greater than myself. I hope to make an impact on water quality and community during my time here.
Kierra Southerland
I’m a first-year master of public administration student at North Carolina Central University. I recently earned my bachelor's degree in political science with a double concentration in pre-law and theory / civic engagement and public policy, plus a minor in criminal justice. I’m from Wake Forest.
I’ve been volunteering in community service since I was a child, starting at the Salvation Army and local homeless shelters. As I got older, I started volunteering at the African American Education Research Organization, the Community Empowerment Fund, and with community gardens. I developed a passion for grant writing, public policy, lobbying, engaging with the community through non-profit resource allocation, and organizing. I love connecting research and theoretical frameworks to resource allocation and program implementation. It’s important for me to not only be able to identify issues but also to contextualize and understand what channels need to be gone through to solve an issue.
I’m excited to work with the N.C. Sierra Club because of its focus on outings and its ability to blend legislative action and public policy with civic engagement and community outreach. Working with the Chapter will give me the opportunity to blend my love for research, policy implementation and engaging with the community all at once, while also allowing me to expand my knowledge about environmental justice and the various issues plaguing my community, and it will equip me with the tools to find potential solutions.