BIO + CV

ʻO wau no ʻo Brissa Kamakaniokekai Christophersen. I from the island of Maui and I currently attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as a graduate student in the Masterʻs of Environmental Management degree program. I graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University) with a B.S. in Wildlife (Conservation and Management) and a B.F.A. in Fine Art. My passion for conservation is prevalent in my work, as I aim to confront issues of endangered species extinction, especially as it pertains to endemic species of Hawai’i. 

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Education

Kamehameha Schools Maui - Spring 2015

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa - Spring 2023

  • M.E.M., Environmental Management

Cal Poly Humboldt - Fall 2020

  • B.F.A., Fine Art

  • B.S., Wildlife (Conservation & Management)​

Exhibitions​

  • HSU Student Exhibition 

    • Morris Graves Museum of Art (2019)

  • Twenty | Twenty: Work by Humboldt State University Art Students

    • Morris Graves Museum of Art (2020)

  • Twenty | Twenty: BFA Exhibition

    • Reese Bullen Gallery (2020)​

  • 2020 HSU Art Graduates Exhibition

    • Reese Bullen Gallery (2020)​

Publications​

  • Humboldt Junior Ranger "Otter Spotter" Activity Book [Cover] (2019)

Special Awards & Scholarships

  • Ka Hikina o ka Lā Scholar - University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2021, 2022)

  • Ingrid Nickelson Trust Award for Outstanding Woman Artist: ʻAlae Keʻokeʻo on a Discoball (2019) - Art Graduates Award Ceremony (2020)

  • Redwood Arts Association Award: ʻAlae Keʻokeʻo on a Discoball (2019) - Art Graduates Award Ceremony (2020)

  • Don Reeser and Mary Evanson Memorial Scholarship - Friends of Haleakalā National Park (2020)

  • Stanley Harris Memorial Scholarship - Humboldt State University (2019)

  • Braden C. Hogan Memorial Scholarship - Humboldt State University (2019)

  • Summer Artist Workshop with Solomon Enos Scholarship - Bailey House Museum (2019)

Conferences Attended​​

  • Lāhui Hawaiʻi Research Conference (LHRC) – Virtual

    • Presenter: "No ka Lāhui: Using IUCN Data to Inform Recovering Imperiled Species of Hawaiʻi, for Hawaiʻi" (2022)​

  • The Wildlife Society: Northwest Section Annual Conference – Reno, Nevada

    • Student Participant: UH NREM Student Volunteer Scholarship Awardee (2022)​

  • Kauluhiwaolele Maui Fiber Arts Conference – Kāʻanapali, Hawaiʻi

    • Student participant: Kauluhiwaolele Maui Fiber Arts Scholarship Awardee (2021)​

  • American Indian Science and Engineering Society National Conference – Virtual

    • ​Student Participant: Indian Tribal Education & Personnel Programm (ITEPP) Center for Native Excellence (2020)

  • California Indian Conference – Sonoma, California

    • Student Participant: Indian Tribal Education & Personnel Program (ITEPP) Center for Native Excellence (2020)

  • Hawai’i Conservation Conference – Honolulu, Hawai’i

    • Student Participant: Virtual Student Scholarship (2021)

    • Student Participant: Kāpili ‘Oihana Internship Program/San Diego Zoo Global Internship (2019)

    • Student Participant: Nā Hua Ho’ohuli I ka Pono Internship Program (2018)

  • IUCN World Conservation Conference – Honolulu, Hawai’i

    • Student Participant: Future Conservation Leaders Program (2017)

  • The Wildlife Society’s Annual National Conference – Raleigh, North Carolina

    • Student Participant: Native Student Professional Development Program (2016)

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