May 1, 2025

We're thrilled to announce that Dejenae Smith, biological sciences '27, was selected as a 2025 Udall Scholar! The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to outstanding sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. Dejenae was selected in the environmental category and plans to pursue a career as a climate scientist. We're so proud that she has been recognized with this award!

Dejenae Smith
biological sciences '27
Environmental category

Dejenae Smith is a third-year student at Drexel University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and concentrating in ecology, evolution, and genomics. Alongside her major, she is also pursuing a minor in data science. She aspires to become a climate scientist, specializing in the intersections of environmental science, climate, and data analysis. She is currently working with Dr. Megan Phifer-Rixey studying urbanization’s morphological impacts on pollinators and herbaceous flowering plants.

Dejenae is also a first-generation Jamaican-American from Philadelphia, and alongside studying the environment, she is dedicated to including more diverse voices in STEM. As for her involvement, Dejenae is a 2023 STAR Scholar and Honors Student, and is thoroughly involved in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society, and Women's Club Rugby.

In her personal time, Dejenae enjoys drawing, reading, and is an avid and experienced Scrabble player, enjoying the game both casually and competitively. She would like to make a special thanks to her mother, whose guidance has not only taught her invaluable life lessons but also instilled in her a commitment to excellence, perseverance, and resilience.

Special thanks to the members of Drexel’s 2025 Udall Campus Committee, who worked with Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs to review, interview, and advise the nominees on their applications:

Neville Vakharia, PhD, Dean of the Pennoni Honors College
David Brown, PhD, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Jill Moses, MFA, Associate Teaching Professor of English, CoAS

Thank you as well to our partners who assisted with campus interviews:

Jen Britton, MS, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Strategy, Drexel Climate and Sustainability
Antonio Martinez-Molina, PhD, Associate Professor of Architecture, Westphal

The Udall Scholarship awards approximately 50 scholarships of up to $7,000 to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics.

For more information, please visit the Udall Foundation website or email fellowships@drexel.edu.