“A big part of the work I do is for my people,” said South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) student Carmen McElroy. “I believe in tribal sovereignty, I believe in Land Back. This work is so important to me.”
For Carmen, education is not just a personal pursuit. It is an extension of responsibility and heritage. A Coast Salish woman, poet, singer-songwriter, mother, and activist, Carmen’s academic journey reflects a life shaped by resilience, reinvention, and a deep commitment to environmental justice.
In high school, Carmen’s future seemed to be headed in a very different direction. She was editor in chief of the school newspaper and earned a journalism scholarship, though it ultimately wasn’t enough to cover college. “I always thought I was going to be a journalist in high school because I really loved The West Wing,” she laughed. “I wanted to be C.J. Cregg, the White House press secretary.”
At the same time, she was developing another skill set: cooking. She learned to cook from her aunt and was originally inspired by her grandmother, who owned a candy and cookie company. In 2010, Carmen entered and won a cooking competition that came with a scholarship to the Art Institute of Seattle, where she attended culinary school. She continues to work nights as a full-time chef.
Carmen’s life took a devastating turn after she was attacked by her ex-boyfriend in her Seattle apartment. Although the relationship had already ended, the experience left her feeling unsafe remaining in the apartment and the city. “I’m lucky to be alive,” she shared. “I knew I couldn’t stay, so I left.” She relocated to Wyoming for a year to rebuild. When her father later became ill, Carmen returned to Washington and continued to care for him until his death in 2015.
Seeking stability, Carmen entered the medical field by completing a phlebotomy certification program and quickly entered the workforce. She worked as a traveling medical examiner, then at Providence, and later at LabCorp. The latter company supported her continuing education, and she remained there until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Looking back, I never really liked working in the medical field,” Carmen reflected. “It was interesting, but the longer I was in it, the more I burned out. I realized this wasn’t the kind of science I wanted to be studying.”
Long before deciding on an academic pathway, Carmen was already engaged in activism and organizing, volunteering with Planned Parenthood’s Teen Council program, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Washington Garbage Gang, and Climate Alliance South Sound. She initially thought she would study salmon, rooted in childhood memories of fishing the Willapa River with her father, a botanist, forester, and fishing guide. She has long been involved in anti-dam activism, including efforts to remove the Lower Snake River Dams and the Skookumchuck Dam to protect blueback salmon endemic to the Quinault River.
Her academic focus shifted after taking Introduction to Oceanography at SPSCC with biology professor Stephanie Malmgren. A project on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation sparked Carmen’s fascination with deep-ocean systems, currents, and climate dynamics. “Ocean acidification has destroyed the shellfish industry here,” Carmen said. “Abalone, clams, and oysters are a main staple food source of native coastal tribes. And it impacts everything in the food chain.”
Now, she plans to focus on deep-sea carbon sequestration, viewing climate science as the foundation for meaningful change. “The more I’ve gotten into climate science, I’ve come to see species conservation as deeply, deeply important; however, it’s a band-aid on internal bleeding. Yes, keep pulling out trash from the oceans and cleaning up beaches. Yes, marine mammal protection, boating laws, and commercial fishing limitations. But we also have to focus on removing carbon, too. We have to do all the parts together to truly make a difference.”
Carmen will transfer to the University of Washington in Fall 2027 to continue studying oceanography, carrying her passion, her activism, and her people with her.
Carmen was selected as one of two students from SPSCC who will be recognized at the All-Washington (All-WA) Academic Team Ceremony on April 23, 2026. The ceremony honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live. For more information on the ceremony, visit the college’s All-WA webpage.