Allegheny Alumni Takes a Deep Dive Into Puerto Rico’s Environmental Reality

The story Alejandra Fernandez '26 tells doesn't begin in a college lab or a library.

It begins outdoors, on the trails, in the wetlands, and among the ecosystems of Puerto Rico where, as a child, she first learned to pay attention.

A recent graduate of Allegheny College, Fernandez has turned that early curiosity into a deeply personal and sharply focused Senior Comprehensive Project. An environmental science and sustainability major with a psychology minor, she is examining environmental colonialism through the lens of one community she knows well, Caño Martín Peña (CMP).

Long before her Senior Comp took shape, Fernandez was already doing the work. For ten years, she has been involved with Para La Naturaleza, serving as both educator and camp counselor. "They have exposed me to many of Puerto Rico's environments and ecosystems since I was young," she says. "Much of my passion for environmental science came from there."

That passion is inseparable from place. "I have lived in Puerto Rico all my life and plan to stay there once I am done with my studies," Fernandez says. "I have always been very passionate about my island, what it has to offer, and its struggles."

Her senior project zeroes in on Caño Martín Peña because of what it reveals. "It's a space right at the edge of the metropolitan area … so having a space like this so close to some of the most urbanized municipalities really shows where funds are being allocated," she explains.

The disparities are not accidental. Fernandez frames them through environmental colonialism, which she defines as a system where "a powerful or influential nation exploits the land, resources, and environment of another nation," leaving local communities with "little access" and "little say or agency."

In Puerto Rico, she traces those dynamics back to 1898 and forward through industrialization efforts like Operation Bootstrap. While such policies promised economic growth, they often came at a cost, polluting water systems, reshaping land use, and deepening inequality. "Environmental colonialism is no longer just historical," she says. "It is embedded in the economic decisions and systems we have today."

At Caño Martín Peña, those consequences are tangible.

Flooding is a constant threat, worsened by unstable soil and dense development. "CMP gets flooded really easily," Fernandez says. The roots of that vulnerability lie in migration patterns shaped by industrialization, which pushed families into informal housing near urban job centers. Without formal recognition, those communities face steep challenges. "Whenever there are catastrophes such as hurricanes and floods, FEMA cannot always help them," she notes.

Infrastructure issues compound the problem. Poor sewage systems can turn natural disasters into public health crises, as contaminated water surfaces in already fragile environments.

Fernandez also sees her research reflected in culture, particularly in the global spotlight created by musician and performer Bad Bunny, who is from Puerto Rico. Watching his Super Bowl performance earlier this year, she noticed imagery that resonated deeply: "the working class in sugar cane fields, the Puerto Rican flags, the Afro-Caribbean culture, and a brief glimpse of the electrical grid."

For her, the performance was more than entertainment. "This show was a bridge between the Puerto Rican diaspora and the Puerto Ricans on the island," she says, pointing to music's long history as a form of resistance. Moments like these, she believes, can amplify awareness of the same systemic issues her comp explores.

Adrienne Krone, associate professor of environmental science and sustainability, observed: "Alejandra approached her senior project with passion and dedication, and the result is an excellent project that provides astute insights into the ways that the environment of Puerto Rico was shaped by colonialism. As Puerto Rico continues to deal with the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change, these insights are an essential component of assessing the damage and working to ensure a more sustainable future.

Ultimately, Fernandez hopes her work reaches beyond academic circles. "I hope that they understand that we exist, that we are more than just a territory, that we are a colony," she says. She wants broader audiences to understand both the challenges Puerto Rico faces and the resilience of its people. "We are not helpless; we just have limited resources."

After graduation, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in environmental justice at the University of Michigan, another step in a journey that has always pointed home.

Because for Fernandez, this work isn't about distance or detachment.

It's about staying close enough to make a difference, and committed enough to keep going.