I’m Irah, a Sacramento native passionate about sustainability, research and design, community, and art. Growing up in one of the greenest cities in the U.S. sparked my lifelong appreciation for nature and inspired me to pursue work that helps protect it. I earned my B.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy with a minor in GIS & Technology from UC Berkeley and a post-baccalaureate CEQA Practitioner Certificate from UC Davis.
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I currently work as a GIS/Admin Support with ECOS, where I create geographic visuals analyzing land use, zoning, and parcel data to aid projects that hinder sustainable and smart development across the Sacramento region. My goal is to continue bridging environmental science, data, and public engagement.
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Outside of work, I’m an artist and educator. I co-founded an art teaching program that brought free art classes to six Sacramento elementary schools and later created a nonprofit art initiative that donates 100% of proceeds to local causes chosen by commissioners. Currently I host book clubs and study groups for middle school girls and young professionals in a the Muslim Folsom community. My end goals has always been to connect with people and give back to the community — whether through teaching, visual storytelling, or collaborative projects or my career and I hope to use this website to document such.
Education & Experience
2024 - Present
Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
GIS & Admin Support​
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Expanded ECOS’s mapping capacity by 90% by producing geospatial analyses and visualizations that strengthened community advocacy. Maps were used by local nonprofits and featured in regional newspapers, contributing to heightened public engagement (+2,000 signatures on petitions, 50% increase in public turnout) and the delay of project public hearings and vote by two months.
Identified 45+ potential affordable housing sites in Sacramento through parcel, zoning, and ownership analysis then verified on-site; findings supported ECOS’s approval to move forward with the next phase of the initiative through financial funding.
Reviewed FEIRs for 30+ regional development projects to evaluate CEQA compliance and policy alignment, producing the first clear, visual synthesis of data that aided representatives in voicing opposition or reservations to sprawl-promoting projects.
2022 - 2023
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Student Trainee Economist
Conducted data-driven research on economic and banking trends for 15+ U.S. metros, synthesizing findings into internal deliverables that enabled senior economists to focus on higher-level policy analysis and client reporting.
Automated Excel-based workflows and enhanced internal research databases through cross-department collaboration, improving analytical efficiency by up to 75% and ensuring timely, accurate reporting across multiple projects.
Authored monthly economic reference guides and job aids, equipping regional teams to forecast local banking trends and tailor guidance to institutions likely to be impacted by market shifts.
2023
University of California, Berkeley
B.S. in Environmental Economics & Policy
Minor: Geospatial Information Systems and Technology
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Developed a strong foundation in environmental economics, data analysis, and geospatial technologies. Coursework included Environmental Economics, Econometrics, Earth System Remote Sensing, GIS and Cartography, and Sustainable Landscapes & City Design.
2024
University of California, Davis
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in CEQA Practice
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Gained hands-on experience with CEQA and NEPA processes, environmental review procedures, and document preparation for land-use and transportation planning.