Sustainable Tourism

Kerala, India


Were Excited To Meet You
Ryan Davila
Ryan is a senior Biology and Political Science double major with a Minor in Sustainability at the
University of Notre Dame originally from San Antonio, Texas. He intends to pursue a career with the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) upon graduation and aid in the creation of
environmental policy for both the United States and the world as a whole. Throughout his time at Notre
Dame he has been heavily involved in the Biological Sciences Department. Ryan has worked in 4 biology
research labs on campus, all environmentally and conservation focused, and from this research he has
been able to publish a paper in a scientific journal and has given several poster and oral presentations at
scientific meetings around the country. He has also worked with faculty studying the education system
in Costa Rica on how different education programs are aiding in the sustainment of the environmentally
friendly national identity that Costa Rica has become known for globally.


Anton Auerbach
Anton is a senior at the University of Notre Dame pursuing a double major in Finance and Peace Studies.
After studying in Shanghai, PRC for a semester last year, he interned for a hotel asset management and
consulting company called Redy Group. Anton delved into the hotel and tourism reports and has some
experience working inside developing economies. He helped create different business partnerships for
the company as well as consult different government and private groups on tourism opportunities. He
consulted Chinese real estate developers who have never operated a hotel on what to do, which could
potentially cross apply to Kerala. This previous internship experience has provided Anton with a
framework and a set of skills to help; He is a diligent worker and researcher. At school, Anton is a board
member of a club called Unleashed in which he promotes sustainable business. He has also worked for
his familys hotel in rural Germany and can converse in German and casually in Mandarin.


Sarah Clark
Sarah is a junior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in Biology and minoring in International
Development Studies. Accordingly, her interests lie largely at the intersection of environmental
conservation, community building, education, and human development. She has research experience
studying the economic impacts of ecosystem services including recreational activities associated with
ecotourism. She is currently involved in a conservation survey project to determine the best course of
action, both ecologically and economically, for restoring the Kankakee Watershed region of northern
Indiana and Illinois so as best to capitalize on the benefits that this natural area can offer to the larger
community. She has performed additional research experience on several indigenous programs
(including the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission) that have used environmental
conservation as a tool to increase the employment levels, while preserving the cultural integrity of tribal
communities.




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Pat Roemer
Pat is a senior political science major and business economics minor at Notre Dame. He has lived in India
for two years, based in New Delhi, but travelling all around the country. Hes gotten the chance to get to
know the country very well through all of this travel. Pat also has policy experience, whether that is
through working at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, or whether its working with the Sri Lankan
government during the summer of 2013 to research continuing peace processes. Someday, Pat would
like to spend more time in India or South Asia and get to travel even more, but until then, he hopes to
be in Washington, DC, for his full-time job next year continuing public policy work. His hobbies include
golfing (often poorly), watching American football, and spending time with his friends.


Madison King
Madison is a Junior Political Science major and International Development Studies minor at Notre Dame.
She has worked in Jodhpur, Rajasthan with Pak Hindu refugees under the direction of Hindu Singh Sodha
and Universal Just Action Society. She finds the Indian culture fascinating and hopes to eventually work
in the United States Department of State on South Asian foreign policy. She understands how to read,
write, and speak Hindi at a very basic level, as well as Mandarin Chinese. Madison is also conducting
research on a Childrens Rights Initiative in collaboration with contacts in the United Nations.
Establishing just policies that include the consideration of vulnerable populations are her highest
priority. She hopes to apply these skills towards building solutions of sustainable tourism in Wayanad.


Thomas Tran
Thomas Tran is a senior at Notre Dame majoring in Political Science and Pre-Health Studies. His areas of
focus include international economics and foreign trade policy as well as healthcare policy. Before
coming to study at Notre Dame, Thomas spent his summers tutoring and working at various nature
sanctuaries and conservation projects repairing paths and managing invasive species. This past summer,
he worked on a campaign fulfilling tasks as event coordination and volunteer training and mobilization.
His interest in aiding the development of sustainable tourism strategies results from a combination of
his academic studies and past experiences.





Our goal is to support the mission of sustainable tourism as a means of encouraging
human development and protecting fragile environmental regions in Wayanad. We
extend this enthusiasm in partnering with the Indian Institute of Management.