Alesia is a highly motivated, committed and enthusiastic young lady from Ghana. Being a firm believer in giving back to her society, Alesia devoted herself to community service by joining the Jesse-Rhodes Foundation in creating awareness on hygiene and sanitation, teenage pregnancies, family planning and HIV/AIDS in rural communities in Ghana after completing High School. The program had a profound impact on her as she continues to remain a lifelong mentor to young girls in these communities. During her undergraduate degree at KNUST, she was the President of the Women in Conservation, a group of young women committed to Resource Conservation in Ghana. With the opportunity to study to study Forestry in Finland during her student exchange period, Alesia realized the importance and potential of forest fringe communities in achieving sustainable forest management in developing countries. Her ultimate career goal is to work in academia as a Professor and a Professional Forester on successful completion of her MSFM degree at UBC. For her PHD studies, she hopes to pursue an interdisciplinary research in Natural Resources Management. Alesia has a soft spot for acting and theater works and also loves to write and blog in her free time.