Centering people in natural resource governance

Kowsar Mohamed is pursuing a PhD in natural resources science and management and currently serves as a Regent of the University of Minnesota. She is a three-time University of Minnesota alumna, with degrees in environmental science, policy and management; global studies; and urban and regional planning.

Discovering her lineage

I began my academic career like many first-generation immigrant students who were encouraged toward medicine, law, or engineering, but I found myself captivated instead by the environmental and biological sciences. Honest conversations with my mother about my pivot unearthed stories about my grandmother’s life as a pastoralist and land steward in Northeastern Somalia, which deepened that spark. Growing up in Cedar Riverside along the Mississippi River also exposed me early to the real environmental and economic challenges communities face. All of these experiences grounded my passion for natural resources research and community-rooted solutions.

People-centered science

I am most passionate about regenerative water governance, ecological knowledge systems, and localized solutions that address global grand challenges. I’m drawn to work that bridges environmental science with community resilience, economic well-being, and cultural histories. I believe natural resource management must center the people most impacted, especially communities experiencing environmental injustice. For me, it’s about restoring the commons and uplifting systems that allow communities to thrive with dignity throughout the experience with our shared ecological systems. 

An intellectual home

CFANS is where I first discovered environmental science, policy, and management (ESPM) as an undergraduate, a program that reflected everything I care about: environment, society, policy, and management. 

The University of Minnesota has continued to be my intellectual home, community, and launchpad for nearly all of my academic pursuits. Returning for my doctorate felt like a natural next step, especially with mentors and faculty whose work aligns with my commitment to regenerative systems and community-engaged scholarship (shout out to Mae Davenport). I grew up right in the backyard of the University, so beyond it being accessible, it also allowed me to be near home and support those I love. 

Goals as University of Minnesota Regent

As a Regent, my core goal is to help ensure the University of Minnesota becomes even more resilient than when I stepped into this role, as an institution prepared to weather future challenges and positioned to serve generations to come across the region and beyond. I'm focused on strengthening institutional trust in partnership with other members of our Board, reinforcing transparent and accountable governance, and supporting long-term stewardship of our academic, research, and clinical missions. Ultimately, I'm committed to safeguarding the University’s role as a premier public institution that delivers lasting value to the people and communities it is designed to serve.

Advice for CFANS students of color

You belong here, and your lived experience is a form of expertise — and I share this with all students in mind. Trust the perspectives you carry; they will shape science and policy in ways the field urgently needs. Seek out mentors who see your full potential, build community among peers, and don’t be afraid to pursue interdisciplinary paths. Your voice, background, and story are strengths in environmental and natural resource fields. There's also no such thing as you're doing too much...do it all. Test it. Fail at it, and get back up again. 

Guided by wisdom

I feel immense gratitude for the communities, mentors, and family members who shaped my journey, especially the women in my lineage whose wisdom continues to guide my work. I hope my story reminds other first-generation students that there are many pathways into science and leadership. Most importantly, I believe our greatest solutions will come from honoring both ancestral knowledge and scientific innovation, working hand in hand.

In Grounded in Purpose, members of CFANS’ Black community share how they discovered their niche in nature. From students and postdocs to faculty and alumni, they are advancing work to preserve and protect the planet.