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Welcome to my personal website. Here, you’ll find a collection of my projects, ideas, and collaborations. I am passionate about Catholicism, cartography, geography. and using spatial data and emerging technologies to improve lives and the planet.
When I’m not studying, consulting, teaching, or engaging in public advocacy, you can often find me outside adventuring by foot or bicycle, working in the dirt on one of my friends’ farms, creating art, immersing myself in the flow of the Psalms, finding stillness and centering in Christ at Holy Adoration, or tearing up the floor at contra dances. And to be honest: even in my downtime, I’m often mapping. Whether it’s grand ideas like systematic theology or the tiny wonders of local ant habitats, mapping is my favorite way to explore, express, and connect with people, places, and ideas.
I believe maps can transform how we understand and care for our neighbors and world. Take a look around—I hope something here sparks your curiosity.
Kindly,
Molly A. H. Burhans
Welcome to my personal website. Here, you’ll find a collection of my projects, ideas, and collaborations. I am passionate about Catholicism, cartography, geography. and using spatial data and emerging technologies to improve lives and the planet.
When I’m not studying, consulting, teaching, or engaging in public advocacy, you can often find me outside adventuring by foot or bicycle, working in the dirt on one of my friends’ farms, creating art, immersing myself in the flow of the Psalms, finding stillness and centering in Christ at Holy Adoration, or tearing up the floor at contra dances. And to be honest: even in my downtime, I’m often mapping. Whether it’s grand ideas like systematic theology or the tiny wonders of local ant habitats, mapping is my favorite way to explore, express, and connect with people, places, and ideas.
I believe maps can transform how we understand and care for our neighbors and world. Take a look around—I hope something here sparks your curiosity.
Kindly,
Molly A. H. Burhans
Molly Burhans is a leader in faith-based environmentalism, cartography, and social entrepreneurship, with a reputation that extends globally. As the founder of GoodLands, an organization that was dedicated to using the Catholic Church’s land holdings for environmental and humanitarian purposes, Burhans made significant strides in progressing sustainable and responsible land use solutions.
Molly is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), focused on writing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography, and serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through The Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. One of Burhans’ most notable achievements was her role as lead cartographer for the first unified global map of the Catholic Church’s governing jurisdictions, which was showcased at the Vatican in 2016. This work earned her recognition from Pope Francis.
Burhans is known for her innovative models for ecological restoration on a global scale, her expertise in meta-state governance, and her groundbreaking models for conservation financing that involve non-taxable landholders. Her contributions in the area of data infrastructure deployment and policy for global non-state actors have drawn the interest and recognition of academic, governmental, and private sectors alike.
This section offers several versions of my biography in varying lengths, providing options for use in materials or media as needed. Click to expand. A gallery of headshots can be found using the button below. Please ensure to request permission before using them.
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Molly Burhans is a leader in faith-based environmentalism, cartography, and social entrepreneurship, with a reputation that extends globally. As founder of GoodLands, Molly pioneered geographic data and spatial technologies to mobilize Catholic institutional landholdings for environmental stewardship and social justice. In 2016, she led the first unified digital global map of the Catholic Church, premiered at the Vatican. Her work extends into ecological restoration, conservation finance, and meta-state governance involving non-taxable landholders.
Molly is a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), developing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography, and inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography at the Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. She holds a Master of Science in Ecological Design from the Conway School and a BA in Philosophy from Canisius University. Molly serves as an adjunct associate professor of Urban Design at Columbia University and has been a visiting scholar at Canisius University.
Molly’s entrepreneurial work began in 2014 with GroOperative, a worker-owned urban agriculture cooperative in Buffalo focused on sustainable food systems and local resilience. Before then, she worked in cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and has extensive experience in scientific illustration and media development.
Her honors include UN Young Champion of the Earth, Ashoka Fellow, and Sierra Club EarthCare Award, and more. Her media and advocacy work has reached more than 1.7 billion individual viewers over the years in media outlets like The New Yorker Magazine, Wired, and The MIT Technology Review.
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Molly Burhans is a cartographer, data scientist, and environmental advocate, and founder. She led the first unified global map of the Church, premiered at the Vatican, and is recognized for work in scalable land-based climate solutions, ecological restoration and conservation finance. Her honors include UN Young Champion of the Earth, Ashoka Fellow, and Sierra Club EarthCare Award. She is a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), developing a treatise on ecclesial geography, and the Ignazio Danti O.P. Fellow at Catholic University of America’s Leonum Institute.
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Molly Burhans is a cartographer, data scientist, and environmental advocate whose work bridges faith, technology, and sustainability. As founder of GoodLands, she pioneered the use of geographic data and spatial technologies to mobilize Catholic Church landholdings for environmental stewardship and social justice. In 2016, she led the creation of the first unified digital global map of the Church, premiered at the Vatican, advancing data-driven approaches to conservation and land governance. She is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through the Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. Her work spans ecological restoration, conservation finance, and meta-state governance. Molly is an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, a frequent international speaker, and has been recognized as a UN Young Champion of the Earth, Ashoka Fellow, and Sierra Club EarthCare Award recipient.
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Molly Burhans is a leader in faith-based environmentalism, cartography, and social entrepreneurship, with a reputation that extends globally. As the founder of GoodLands, an organization that was dedicated to using the Catholic Church’s land holdings for environmental and humanitarian purposes, Burhans made significant strides in progressing sustainable and responsible land use solutions.
Molly is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), focused on writing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography, and serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through The Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. One of Burhans’ most notable achievements was her role as lead cartographer for the first unified global map of the Catholic Church’s governing jurisdictions, which was showcased at the Vatican in 2016. This work earned her recognition from Pope Francis.
Burhans is known for her innovative models for ecological restoration on a global scale, her expertise in meta-state governance, and her groundbreaking models for conservation financing that involve non-taxable landholders. Her contributions in the area of data infrastructure deployment and policy for global non-state actors have drawn the interest and recognition of academic, governmental, and private sectors alike.
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Molly Burhans is a cartographer, data scientist, and environmental advocate whose work bridges faith, technology, and sustainability. Throughout her career, she has embraced diverse roles reflecting her passion for design, science, entrepreneurship, education, and ecological systems thinking.
As the founder of GoodLands, Molly has pioneered the use of geographic data and emerging spatial technologies to mobilize the Catholic Church’s global landholdings for environmental stewardship and social justice. In 2016, she led the creation of the first unified digital global map of the Catholic Church, which premiered at the Vatican and provided an unprecedented visualization of its worldwide presence, laying the foundation for data-driven approaches to conservation, climate action, and land governance. Her work extends into innovative models for ecological restoration across geographic scales, meta-state governance, and conservation financing, particularly involving non-taxable landholders. She is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where she is focused on writing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography. She also serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through the Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies.
Molly’s entrepreneurial path began in 2013 with GroOperative, a worker-owned cooperative in Buffalo, New York, focused on sustainable urban agriculture and indoor farming systems designed to address food insecurity while supporting local economic resilience. This early work reflects a continuing interest in integrating technology, land use, and community-based systems.
She serves as an adjunct associate professor of Urban Design at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and has been a visiting scholar at Canisius University. Molly is a frequent speaker at international forums, including the Vatican, TEDx events, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), and her work has been featured in publications such as The New Yorker, MIT Technology Review, and Landscape Architecture Magazine.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a laboratory technician at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, researching DNA replication, genomic stability, and oxidative stress in relation to cancer development. She also brings over two decades of experience in scientific media development and illustration, trained through Cornell’s Biological Illustration program at Shoals Marine Laboratory. Her scientific illustrations have appeared in Oxford Journals: Nucleic Acids Research and in proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Molly holds a Master of Science in Ecological Design from the Conway School (2015), where she was a Sustainable Communities Initiative Fellow, and a BA in Philosophy with a minor in dance from Canisius University (2014). Her contributions have earned international recognition, including being named a UN Young Champion of the Earth, an Ashoka Fellow, and a Sierra Club EarthCare Award recipient, as well as being featured in Encyclopædia Britannica’s “20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future.”
Across academia, fieldwork, and global practice, Molly continues to advance spatial approaches to caring for people, places, and the planet through mapping, analysis, and design.
Molly Burhans is a leader in faith-based environmentalism, cartography, and social entrepreneurship, with a reputation that extends globally. As the founder of GoodLands, an organization that was dedicated to using the Catholic Church’s land holdings for environmental and humanitarian purposes, Burhans made significant strides in progressing sustainable and responsible land use solutions.
Molly is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), focused on writing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography, and serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through The Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. One of Burhans’ most notable achievements was her role as lead cartographer for the first unified global map of the Catholic Church’s governing jurisdictions, which was showcased at the Vatican in 2016. This work earned her recognition from Pope Francis.
Burhans is known for her innovative models for ecological restoration on a global scale, her expertise in meta-state governance, and her groundbreaking models for conservation financing that involve non-taxable landholders. Her contributions in the area of data infrastructure deployment and policy for global non-state actors have drawn the interest and recognition of academic, governmental, and private sectors alike.
This section offers several versions of my biography in varying lengths, providing options for use in materials or media as needed. Click to expand. A gallery of headshots can be found using the button below. Please ensure to request permission before using them.
Words: 256
Characters: 1768
Characters excluding spaces: 1516
Molly Burhans is a leader in faith-based environmentalism, cartography, and social entrepreneurship, with a reputation that extends globally. As founder of GoodLands, Molly pioneered geographic data and spatial technologies to mobilize Catholic institutional landholdings for environmental stewardship and social justice. In 2016, she led the first unified digital global map of the Catholic Church, premiered at the Vatican. Her work extends into ecological restoration, conservation finance, and meta-state governance involving non-taxable landholders.
Molly is a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), developing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography, and inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography at the Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. She holds a Master of Science in Ecological Design from the Conway School and a BA in Philosophy from Canisius University. Molly serves as an adjunct associate professor of Urban Design at Columbia University and has been a visiting scholar at Canisius University.
Molly’s entrepreneurial work began in 2014 with GroOperative, a worker-owned urban agriculture cooperative in Buffalo focused on sustainable food systems and local resilience. Before then, she worked in cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and has extensive experience in scientific illustration and media development.
Her honors include UN Young Champion of the Earth, Ashoka Fellow, and Sierra Club EarthCare Award, and more. Her media and advocacy work has reached more than 1.7 billion individual viewers over the years in media outlets like The New Yorker Magazine, Wired, and The MIT Technology Review.
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Molly Burhans is a cartographer, data scientist, and environmental advocate, and founder. She led the first unified global map of the Church, premiered at the Vatican, and is recognized for work in scalable land-based climate solutions, ecological restoration and conservation finance. Her honors include UN Young Champion of the Earth, Ashoka Fellow, and Sierra Club EarthCare Award. She is a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), developing a treatise on ecclesial geography, and the Ignazio Danti O.P. Fellow at Catholic University of America’s Leonum Institute.
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Molly Burhans is a cartographer, data scientist, and environmental advocate whose work bridges faith, technology, and sustainability. As founder of GoodLands, she pioneered the use of geographic data and spatial technologies to mobilize Catholic Church landholdings for environmental stewardship and social justice. In 2016, she led the creation of the first unified digital global map of the Church, premiered at the Vatican, advancing data-driven approaches to conservation and land governance. She is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through the Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies. Her work spans ecological restoration, conservation finance, and meta-state governance. Molly is an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, a frequent international speaker, and has been recognized as a UN Young Champion of the Earth, Ashoka Fellow, and Sierra Club EarthCare Award recipient.
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Molly Burhans is a leader in faith-based environmentalism, cartography, and social entrepreneurship, with a reputation that extends globally. As the founder of GoodLands, an organization dedicated to using the Catholic Church’s land holdings for environmental and humanitarian purposes, Burhans made significant strides in progressing sustainable and responsible land use solutions.
Molly is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), focused on writing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography, and serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through The Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies.
One of Burhans’ most notable achievements was her role as lead cartographer for the first unified global map of the Catholic Church’s governing jurisdictions, which was showcased at the Vatican in 2016. This work earned her recognition from Pope Francis.
Burhans is known for her innovative models for ecological restoration on a global scale, her expertise in meta-state governance, and her groundbreaking models for conservation financing that involve non-taxable landholders. Her contributions in the area of data infrastructure deployment and policy for global non-state actors have drawn the interest and recognition of academic, governmental, and private sectors alike.
Words: 486
Characters: 3453
Characters excluding spaces: 2975
Molly Burhans is a cartographer, data scientist, and environmental advocate whose work bridges faith, technology, and sustainability. Throughout her career, she has embraced diverse roles reflecting her passion for design, science, entrepreneurship, education, and ecological systems thinking.
As the founder of GoodLands, Molly has pioneered the use of geographic data and emerging spatial technologies to mobilize the Catholic Church’s global landholdings for environmental stewardship and social justice. In 2016, she led the creation of the first unified digital global map of the Catholic Church, which premiered at the Vatican and provided an unprecedented visualization of its worldwide presence, laying the foundation for data-driven approaches to conservation, climate action, and land governance. Her work extends into innovative models for ecological restoration across geographic scales, meta-state governance, and conservation financing, particularly involving non-taxable landholders. She is currently a doctoral student in Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where she is focused on writing a foundational treatise on ecclesial geography. She also serves as the inaugural Ignazio Danti, O.P. Fellow in Geography through the Catholic University of America’s Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies.
Molly’s entrepreneurial path began in 2013 with GroOperative, a worker-owned cooperative in Buffalo, New York, focused on sustainable urban agriculture and indoor farming systems designed to address food insecurity while supporting local economic resilience. This early work reflects a continuing interest in integrating technology, land use, and community-based systems.
She serves as an adjunct associate professor of Urban Design at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and has been a visiting scholar at Canisius University. Molly is a frequent speaker at international forums, including the Vatican, TEDx events, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), and her work has been featured in publications such as The New Yorker, MIT Technology Review, and Landscape Architecture Magazine.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a laboratory technician at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, researching DNA replication, genomic stability, and oxidative stress in relation to cancer development. She also brings over two decades of experience in scientific media development and illustration, trained through Cornell’s Biological Illustration program at Shoals Marine Laboratory. Her scientific illustrations have appeared in Oxford Journals: Nucleic Acids Research and in proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Molly holds a Master of Science in Ecological Design from the Conway School (2015), where she was a Sustainable Communities Initiative Fellow, and a BA in Philosophy with a minor in dance from Canisius University (2014). Her contributions have earned international recognition, including being named a UN Young Champion of the Earth, an Ashoka Fellow, and a Sierra Club EarthCare Award recipient, as well as being featured in Encyclopædia Britannica’s “20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future.”
Across academia, fieldwork, and global practice, Molly continues to advance spatial approaches to caring for people, places, and the planet through mapping, analysis, and design.
Current Version: May 2026
Current Version: May 2026
This section highlights a selection of honors and awards. It is notable that this is the first time that most of these awards have recognized explicitly faith-based work, setting a new precedent for the role of religious leadership in social entrepreneurship, innovation, and environmentalism.
Ignazio Danti O.P. Fellow
Catholic University of America | 2026 – 2027
Research fellowship at the Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies, The Catholic University of America, advancing the Catholic intellectual tradition in geography through AI, geospatial systems, and emerging technologies.
Frassati Scholarship
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas | Sp. 2026
Frassati Scholarship, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, is a merit-based scholarship honoring academic excellence, ecclesial engagement, and commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition. Inspired by Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, it supports students who integrate rigorous study with a life of service, virtue, and dedication to the mission of the Church.
Doctor Honoris Causa
St. Mary’s College, Southbend, IN | 2023
Awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of exceptional contributions to Catholic communities, environmental sustainability, social justice, and the integration of GIS technology for faith-based and community-driven initiatives.
Young Champion of the Earth
United Nations Environment Programme | 2019
Young Champions of the Earth is the United Nations’ highest environmental award for young adults. Seven Young Champions, one from each continental region, are recognized each year as talented innovators who demonstrate outstanding potential to create positive environmental impact. Awarded for 2019 Young Champion of the Earth laureate for N. America.
EarthCare Award
Sierra Club | 2021
This award honors individuals or organizations making unique contributions to international environmental protection and conservation. Past recipients include Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, Sir David Attenborough, Wolfgang Burhenne, Former President Andrés Pérez, and the Black Mambas all-women anti-poaching unit.
National Geographic Explorer
National Geographic | 2021 cohort, lifelong
A National Geographic Explorer is an exceptional individual who receives support and funding from the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling. Driven by curiosity and a commitment to making the planet a better place, Explorers are leaders and problem solvers who engage with communities, share inspiring stories, and work towards a sustainable future.
Emerging Explorer
National Geographic | 2021
National Geographic annually selects 5 – 15 Trailblazing young scientists, educators, storytellers, and conservationists who are transforming their fields, improving the lives and the planet, and furthering our understanding of our world and all that’s in it.
Encyclopedia Britannica’s 20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future – Academia and Ideas
Encyclopedia Britannica | 2022
Recognized as a Young Shaper of the Future in the category of Academia and Ideas. Encyclopedia Britannica’s 20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future work in many fields and endeavors, embracing every corner and intersection of health and medicine, science and technology, and business and entrepreneurship. They are people of ideas, framing the intellectual questions and concerns that will guide future thought.
Ashoka Fellow
Ashoka Foundation | 2018 cohort, lifelong
Ashoka Fellows are the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. They champion innovative new ideas that transform society’s systems, providing benefits for everyone and improving the lives of millions of people. After a rigorous selection process, they are introduced to a life-long fellowship, where every member is committed to championing new patterns of social good.
Henry Arnhold Conservation Fellow
Mulago Foundation | 2020
The Mulago Foundation awards 8-10 leaders per year a Henry Arnhold Fellowship. There are no open applications for the award, the foundation identifies these leaders independently. Fellows have developed promising conservation and climate solutions that are scientifically, economically, and socially feasible and can be scaled to make critical global impacts towards improving environmental wellbeing.
Mary Magdalene Award
The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC | 2023
The Mary Magdalen Award is presented by the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City. This prestigious award honors exceptional Catholic women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to their faith and community. Notable recipients include Sister Norma Pimentel, Diane Nash, and Dolores Huerta.
St. Oscar Romero Award
Mercyhurst University | 2023
Mercyhurst University’s 31st recipient of the Oscar Romero Award. The award is named for St. Oscar Romero, the late archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador remembered for his uncompromising commitment to the poor and the oppressed of El Salvador; the award is given to “a person living the call of faith in an extraordinary manner.”
Pioneers of Change
World Economic Forum | 2020
Recognized as one of 100 Pioneers of Change for pioneering new technologies and innovations that play a critical role in transforming society. The World Economic Forum’s inaugural Pioneers of Change Summit, held virtually from November 16–20, 2020, convened these change makers and over 2,000 leaders from more than 90 countries to address the urgent need for systemic transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grist Fixer
Grist Media | 2019
Each year Grist selects 50 emerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. Now in its sixth year, the list includes scientists, artists, policymakers, farmers, social-justice advocates, storytellers, entrepreneurs, technologists, chefs, clean-energy wonks — all kinds of people pointing the way toward a just, sustainable future.
Sustainable Communities Initiative Fellowship
The Conway School | 2014 – 2015
The Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI) Fellowship at The Conway School was a merit-based scholarship designed to support students committed to careers in urban landscape planning and design with a focus on sustainability and human ecology. The fellowship aimed to advance ecological restoration, conservation planning, and regenerative design by empowering emerging professionals to address pressing environmental and social challenges. The SCI Fellowship was last offered for the 2014–2015 academic year and is no longer available.
Dorothy Day Social Justice Award
Canisius University | 2014
The Dorothy Day Social Justice Award at Canisius University honors a student who embodies the legacy of Dorothy Day through a steadfast commitment to social justice, peace, and radical hospitality. Presented by Campus Ministry, this award recognizes individuals who actively engage in service and advocacy, reflecting Day’s dedication to uplifting marginalized communities and fostering a more compassionate society.
Alpha Sigma Nu Honors Society Inductee
Jesuits | 2026, Lifelong
Alpha Sigma Nu recognizes students who distinguish themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service and encourages its members to a lifetime pursuit of intellectual development, deepening Ignatian spirituality, service to others, and a commitment to the core principles of Jesuit education.
Phi Sigma Tau Honors Society Inductee
Phi Sigma Tau | 2014, Lifelong
Phi Sigma Tau is the International Honor Society for Philosophers, founded in 1930 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1955. With over 200 chapters across the United States and Canada, the society honors academic excellence in philosophy and fosters a community among students and scholars. It publishes the journal Dialogue, featuring student contributions in contemporary philosophical research.
This section highlights a selection of honors and awards. It is notable that this is the first time that most of these awards have recognized explicitly faith-based work, setting a new precedent for the role of religious leadership in social entrepreneurship, innovation, and environmentalism.
Ignazio Danti O.P. Fellow
Catholic University of America | 2026
Research fellowship at the Leonine Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies, The Catholic University of America, advancing the Catholic intellectual tradition in geography through AI, geospatial systems, and emerging technologies.
Frassati Scholarship
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas | 2026
Frassati Scholarship, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, is a merit-based scholarship honoring academic excellence, ecclesial engagement, and commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition. Inspired by Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, it supports students who integrate rigorous study with a life of service, virtue, and dedication to the mission of the Church.
Doctor Honoris Causa
St. Mary’s College, Southbend, IN
| 2023
Awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of exceptional contributions to Catholic communities, environmental sustainability, social justice, and the integration of GIS technology for faith-based and community-driven initiatives.
Young Champion of the Earth
United Nations Environment Programme | 2019
Young Champions of the Earth is the United Nations’ highest environmental award for young adults. Seven Young Champions, one from each continental region, are recognized each year as talented innovators who demonstrate outstanding potential to create positive environmental impact. Awarded for 2019 Young Champion of the Earth laureate for N. America.
EarthCare Award
Sierra Club | 2021
This award honors individuals or organizations making unique contributions to international environmental protection and conservation. Past recipients include Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, Sir David Attenborough, Wolfgang Burhenne, Former President Andrés Pérez, and the Black Mambas all-women anti-poaching unit.
National Geographic Explorer
National Geographic | 2021 cohort, lifelong
A National Geographic Explorer is an exceptional individual who receives support and funding from the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling. Driven by curiosity and a commitment to making the planet a better place, Explorers are leaders and problem solvers who engage with communities, share inspiring stories, and work towards a sustainable future.
Emerging Explorer
National Geographic | 2021
National Geographic annually selects 5 – 15 Trailblazing young scientists, educators, storytellers, and conservationists who are transforming their fields, improving the lives and the planet, and furthering our understanding of our world and all that’s in it.
Encyclopedia Britannica’s 20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future – Academia and Ideas
Encyclopedia Britannica | 2022
Recognized as a Young Shaper of the Future in the category of Academia and Ideas. Encyclopedia Britannica’s 20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future work in many fields and endeavors, embracing every corner and intersection of health and medicine, science and technology, and business and entrepreneurship. They are people of ideas, framing the intellectual questions and concerns that will guide future thought.
Ashoka Fellow
Ashoka Foundation | 2018 cohort, lifelong
Ashoka Fellows are the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. They champion innovative new ideas that transform society’s systems, providing benefits for everyone and improving the lives of millions of people. After a rigorous selection process, they are introduced to a life-long fellowship, where every member is committed to championing new patterns of social good.
Henry Arnhold Conservation Fellow
Mulago Foundation | 2020
The Mulago Foundation awards 8-10 leaders per year a Henry Arnhold Fellowship. There are no open applications for the award, the foundation identifies these leaders independently. Fellows have developed promising conservation and climate solutions that are scientifically, economically, and socially feasible and can be scaled to make critical global impacts towards improving environmental wellbeing.
Mary Magdalene Award
The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC | 2023
The Mary Magdalen Award is presented by the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City. This prestigious award honors exceptional Catholic women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to their faith and community. Notable recipients include Sister Norma Pimentel, Diane Nash, and Dolores Huerta.
St. Oscar Romero Award
Mercyhurst University | 2023
Mercyhurst University’s 31st recipient of the Oscar Romero Award. The award is named for St. Oscar Romero, the late archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador remembered for his uncompromising commitment to the poor and the oppressed of El Salvador; the award is given to “a person living the call of faith in an extraordinary manner.”
Pioneers of Change
World Economic Forum | 2020
Recognized as one of 100 Pioneers of Change for pioneering new technologies and innovations that play a critical role in transforming society. The World Economic Forum’s inaugural Pioneers of Change Summit, held virtually from November 16–20, 2020, convened these change makers and over 2,000 leaders from more than 90 countries to address the urgent need for systemic transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grist Fixer
Grist Media | 2019
Each year Grist selects 50 emerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. Now in its sixth year, the list includes scientists, artists, policymakers, farmers, social-justice advocates, storytellers, entrepreneurs, technologists, chefs, clean-energy wonks — all kinds of people pointing the way toward a just, sustainable future.
Sustainable Communities Initiative Fellowship
The Conway School | 2014 – 2015
The Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI) Fellowship at The Conway School was a merit-based scholarship designed to support students committed to careers in urban landscape planning and design with a focus on sustainability and human ecology. The fellowship aimed to advance ecological restoration, conservation planning, and regenerative design by empowering emerging professionals to address pressing environmental and social challenges. The SCI Fellowship was last offered for the 2014–2015 academic year and is no longer available.
Dorothy Day Social Justice Award
Canisius University | 2014
The Dorothy Day Social Justice Award at Canisius University honors a student who embodies the legacy of Dorothy Day through a steadfast commitment to social justice, peace, and radical hospitality. Presented by Campus Ministry, this award recognizes individuals who actively engage in service and advocacy, reflecting Day’s dedication to uplifting marginalized communities and fostering a more compassionate society.
Alpha Sigma Nu Honors Society Inductee
Jesuits | 2026, Lifelong
Alpha Sigma Nu recognizes students who distinguish themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service and encourages its members to a lifetime pursuit of intellectual development, deepening Ignatian spirituality, service to others, and a commitment to the core principles of Jesuit education.
Phi Sigma Tau Honors Society Inductee
Phi Sigma Tau | 2014, Lifelong
Phi Sigma Tau is the International Honor Society for Philosophers, founded in 1930 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1955. With over 200 chapters across the United States and Canada, the society honors academic excellence in philosophy and fosters a community among students and scholars. It publishes the journal Dialogue, featuring student contributions in contemporary philosophical research.
Image Credit: [Personal Introduction image – Gabriella Clare Marino (https://unsplash.com/@gabiontheroad) for Casino Pio IV and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences] [Header hero base: Pexel free image]
Image Credit: [Personal Introduction image – Gabriella Clare Marino (https://unsplash.com/@gabiontheroad) for Casino Pio IV and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences] [Header hero base: Pexel free image]