A passionate changemaker with over 15 years of service to people and planet, Avalon Jade Theisen is dedicated to empowering others to Conserve It Forward for a sustainable future. She was a Project Green Schools Youth Board Member from 2015 to 2017 and has been an Advisory Board Member since 2020. Avalon realized from a young age she could make positive, effective change, and help others do so, as well. Her efforts resulted in founding the nonprofit organization Conserve It Forward in 2009, which focuses on making environmental action accessible for young people. Encouraging the use of kindness and compassion to confront global issues, she has traveled the world to share her message and work alongside others. Having grown up in Tampa, Florida, Avalon is currently at Arizona State University where she is studying for her PhD in religious studies, as well as earning a second master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management. Her research focus is the intersection of religions, environment, and making nonprofit organizations more effective. In addition to her roles as a graduate student and teaching assistant, Avalon is an instructor at Athena’s Advanced Academy, where she teaches social studies courses addressing sustainability using curricula she created for middle and high school students. Avalon also serves as Book Reviews Coordinator for the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, and was recognized as Intern of the Year in 2025 at the U.S. Department of State for her research on ways to reduce religious conflict. She believes that when we better understand each other’s foundational beliefs, we improve our connections and can more effectively collaborate to solve local and global challenges. She has represented Project Green Schools to promote environmental education at the United Nations, the White House, and the Massachusetts State House of Representatives. Avalon plans to pursue a career in university education and continue advocating for the environment and intercultural respect.