Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

The Yale School of the Environment is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students, staff, and faculty.

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    Yale School of the Environment
    300 Prospect Street
    New Haven, CT 06511 USA

    Tel.:  +1 (203) 432-5106
    or 1-800-825-0330
    Fax:  +1 (203) 432-5528

    Admissions
    admissions.yse@yale.edu

    Financial Aid
    financialaid.yse@yale.edu

    Hours of Operation
    Summer Hours
    Monday-Friday
    8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (ET)

    The YSE Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is operating virtually until further notice. We will respond to your inquiries within 24 to 48 hours. While the office is closed for on-campus visits, please register to set up a virtual visit or appointment.

    Dr. Wendi Hicks
    Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid

    Pamela Welch
    Associate Director of Financial Aid

    Brie Charles
    Associate Director of Admissions, Events & Recruitment

    Quetcy Rivas Maldonado
    Master’s Program Coordinator

    Rosalie Mutonji
    Senior Administrative Assistant/Admissions

    Staff Contacts and Bios

    As a team made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, please know the we are dedicated to engaging with and recruiting individuals with multi-faceted perspectives and experiences to aid in the cultivation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community who also strive to create a sustainable future for all people and the planet. We do hope to have the opportunity to connect with you as you begin your journey to learn more about the programs and community here at YSE.

    Greetings from the Yale School of the Environment community and the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid team!

    Having grown up in rural South Georgia—a region deeply connected to agriculture and natural systems—I’ve long been aware of the complex interplay between environmental issues, public policy, and community well-being.

    My professional and academic journey has been driven by a deep commitment to expanding access to higher education and supporting student success across a wide range of life experiences and academic interests. I hold a Doctorate in Public Administration, with dual concentrations in Higher Education Leadership and Public Policy. This background has shaped my perspective on the transformative potential of education, particularly in addressing today’s environmental and societal challenges.

    Our admissions team values thoughtful engagement with people from all walks of life, and we strive to foster an environment where individuals feel supported in bringing their full selves to their academic and professional pursuits. While building a welcoming and responsive community is ongoing work, I remain committed to helping create spaces where students can thrive and lead. 

    Outside of work, I enjoy dancing, trying new pizza spots, and walking with friends and my loving puppy Zorro. 

    Hello from New Haven County! I am excited to be part of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. The environmental health of the earth is at a critical apex, and as the associate director of Financial Aid at YSE, I am thrilled to be able to help students work towards a more sustainable future. Helping students navigate the tricky world of financial aid is my priority. I have more than a decade of experience working in colleges helping students with financial aid, including integrating new financial aid platforms and working with a diverse array of students. I consider myself a student for life, I have a master’s degree in accounting and an MBA in Digital Entrepreneurship, and I am always seeking out new courses.

    I enjoy outdoor adventures whenever possible. Whether it is ziplining down the Great Smokey Mountains or kayaking with alligators in the Everglades. I am an avid kayaker and enjoy a nice hike in the woods with my pup, Jackson. I look forward to helping you navigate financial aid throughout your YSE journey!

    Hi! I’m so excited to be on the YSE team, and to share my passion for higher education and caring for the spaces that we occupy with the Yale community. 

    Before coming to New Haven, I’ve worked in undergraduate admissions at institutions in DC and Pittsburgh, cities that have uniquely shaped my perspective on the relation between urban life and the environmental crisis. I’m eager to expand my perspective in a new city and university, and to support researchers and students in YSE. In my free time, I enjoy reading all kinds of fiction, taking on crafting projects, hanging out with my husband and son, and finding good local ice creameries.

    Hola from New Haven!! The environmental challenge the world faces was one of the reasons why I came to YSE. Not the least important of which are the perils bearing down on Puerto Rico with the brief stints of relief between earthquakes and hurricanes that rocked the island in the not so distant past. One of my hopes is that students of YSE set their sights toward my beautiful isle of Puerto Rico and undertake the initiatives to reconstruct the affected areas and develop long term solutions. What does a Puerto Rican do to relax after replying to an inundated inbox? I am a DIY enthusiast which reinforces my efforts to reuse and recycle. I am helped by my loving family, of whom my only child is getting an M.F.A in writing and our energetic German Shepherd (Luna-nicknamed Lunatic) graciously volunteers to reduce the items that end up in the trash. To destress from a long workday, I turn to a good mystery whether on screen or in the comfort of a bedside book.  

     

    Bonjour! I was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly known as Zaire. I moved to the United States and have lived in New Haven since the early 2000s. Coming from a developing country, I know the importance of the environment. I have experienced at first hand the negative impact of a lack of environmental stewardship. I believe in education as the basis for creating a more sustainable planet for us and for generations to come. That is why I am proud to be part of the YSE Admissions Team. As someone who speaks five languages, I am a strong supporter of cultural diversity. Outside of my professional work here at YSE, I have a particular interest in Refugee Resettlement, Immigrants’ Rights and Affordable Housing. I volunteer with many organizations whose missions are near and dear to my heart. I enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends, especially sharing a good meal at one of New Haven’s many restaurants. I am a lover of life and all things fun. I never pass up the opportunity to dance!

    Student Ambassador

    Kaly Sperling

    Kaley Sperling

    Hello everyone!

    I’m super excited to be working as a Yale School of the Environment student ambassador and I’m looking forward to getting to know you and supporting you in any way I can as you apply for graduate school!

    I am a first-year MESc student working in Dr. David Skelly’s amphibian ecology lab. I am passionate about amphibian conservation and managing ecosystems for biodiversity preservation. Before YSE, I was at Duke University where I received my BS in Environmental Sciences in the Spring of 2024. I was born and raised in Connecticut only 40 minutes from New Haven, so feel free to ask me any questions about the state!

    In my free time, I like to practice yoga, go to concerts, and spend time at home with my two cats. I also love all things outdoors, including hiking and backpacking!