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Come back as a flower
Read more: Come back as a flowerI was unemployed for about two years before I found opportunity in a job training program for new farmers. It was organized by Windy City…
About me
I also like to camp and paint
I’m Jailene Leyva, a biology and environmental science student at Northeastern Illinois University also minoring in GIS. I’m passionate about restoration ecology, especially in the Upper Midwest.
I’m also committed to supporting first-generation students in science, motivated by my own nontraditional academic journey. Another thing to know about me is that I have a lot of creative energy! Right now, I’m using that energy to write songs. We’ll see how it goes!
I have a little Jackapoo named Concha :)
She will be 7 by the end of 2026!
It would be cool to do research sometime in the future*!
- Investigate the techniques behind protecting and restoring plant populations in the Upper Midwest
- Improving how we manage invasive species
- Selecting the right seed mixes to restore biodiversity
- How we can support pollinators in urban spaces, which are crucial for healthy ecosystems.
- *Currently working on a graminoid research project where I hope to find whether different burn management styles affect the abundance of particular grasses. (graminoid is another way to refer to grasses, sedges, and rushes!)
Reading goals for 2026
Currently reading: The Possession of Alba Diaz – Isabel Cañas
On reading list:
- These Heathens – Mia McKenzie
- Long Distance – Ayșegül Savaș
- The Wayfinder – Adam Johnson
- Perfect Victims – Mohammed El-Kurd
I created a discord server for nice people who want to fish and may also be queer
It’s linked at the bottom of the website! Just click on the discord logo. I haven’t been super active on it for 2026 (2 jobs, summer classes, a garden, oh my!). But I’m still hopeful it can grow into something more consistent.
Jailene Leyva 