Photo: Graduate Teaching Assistant 2024 Osbourne Fellow Contact info Email: Charmayne.Planter@uga.edu Office: Geography-Geology Bld, 210 Field St, Athens, GA, 30606 Office Hours: M - F / 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Phone Number: 706-542-2856 Other Affiliations: Charmayne Planter's inspirational path to becoming an changemaker Connect with me on Linkedin! I am a human geographer focused on the intersections of environment, culture, and community. As A descendant of the Gullah-Geechee Nation, I am exploring how land, heritage, and justice shape coastal life and resilience strategies embedded in the contemporary community. I am currently pursuing a master’s in Geography at the University of Georgia, where my research uplifts Black feminist perspectives and community-based approaches to conservation and sustainability. I describe myself as Mother Nature’s daughter with a salty streak. As the founder of Planter Girl, this organization is a purpose-driven multi-media publication that empowers young women especially from Black, Indigenous backgrounds through providing accessible environmental education, cultural storytelling, and sustainable living. We blend environmental justice, carefree living, and storytelling inspired by my Gullah-Geechee heritage. Whether I’m writing, podcasting, or beach-walking, our team is dedicated to creating spaces that heal, inspire, and spark action for people and the planet starting with where I come from. Education Education: Sarah Lawrence College - Bachelors of Arts, 2020- 2024 Kansai Gadai University: Study Abroad - Spring 2024 Spelman College: Study Abroad - Fall 2024 Grant Support Grants: Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program - Awarded by United States Department of State Morris K. & Stewart L. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship - Awarded by Udall Foundation Meredith Fonda Russell International Fieldwork Grant - Awarded by Sarah Lawrence College Osborne Graduate Fellowships for Students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences"The purpose of this fellowship is to support outstanding graduate students." - Awarded by the University of Georgia Of Note Of note: Charmayne Planter Honored with National Conservation Young Leader Award - 2020 “Ensuring that all Americans have equitable access to clean air, clean water and green space is the foundation to any and all conservation success,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Whether leading letter writing campaigns or helping the Atlanta Earth Tomorrow chapter to address environmental racism, Charmayne is a shining example of the dedication needed to inspire real change and ensure a promising future for people and wildlife alike.” Human Geographer Charmayne Planter helps lay the groundwork for the next generation of conservationists - 2024 "Planter’s Earth Tomorrow experiences piqued her desire to investigate the environment and how people interact with it, so she began studying human geography. Her work has been particularly focused on the Gullah/Geechee people—Planter is Gullah/Geechee through her late father—and as an undergraduate she analyzed their relationship with nature. Now she is expanding that research to consider how factors including tourism and the economy affect the Gullah/Geechee and their way of life." Course Instruction Courses Regularly Taught: GEOG 1130 Research Selected Publications: National Wildlife Federation Youth Programs - Market Research Report 2024 "The purpose of this research is develop strategies to enhance youth engagement andparticipation in NWF’s youth programs and pre-professional internships, ensuring safe andeffective planning throughout the following processes: hiring, management practices, employeedevelopment, monitoring work experience quality, networking, and retention." SURGE: The Lowcountry Climate Magazine, Issue 11 "Surge is the Lowcountry’s climate magazine, where we share stories about the climate crisis and the brave, creative local folks rising to meet it." Page 7: "Charmayne Planter is a researcher and founder of Planter Girl a multimedia platform to engage young women color and environmental justice, she sees one of the major barriers to Gullah-Geechee Culture flourishing in Charleston as economic limitations, and the housing is inaccessible to so many. She also sees great power in nature practices as a way to reclaim feelings of agency and comfort for Gullah Geechee folks. After a recent Rising Rhythm Outdoor yoga event, she saw something that should be replicated for more black young women and through her work with 'Planter girl' she aims to provide those spaces-" Youth Climate Action Toolkit - Nature Conservancy, Aspen Institute & ThisisPlanetEd "Charmayne has pursued independent research opportunities with a focus on conservation efforts in rural coastal communities and indigenous landscapes. In her research, she has incorporated perspectives from her own Gullah-Geechee ancestry and engaged with other Western Indigenous communities in the U.S. Her academic and personal experiences have led her to focus on the intersectionality between the environment and economy, which she has been able to broadcast through the support from National Geographic, the Nature Conservancy, and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium."
