At the University of Costa Rica, Cris earned a degree in social work, specializing in social service within Indigenous and rural communities. Additionally, she delved into socio-environmental issues and the LGTBIQA+ community in Costa Rica. Throughout her studies, Cris dedicated her time to volunteering with various organizations within the southern communities of her country, providing support to local women and farmers to improve their living conditions. She contributed to two projects focused on community development and the preservation of ancestral and peasant knowledge. Over the past two years, she has also supported various NGOs in her country. Cris recently earned her licenciatura degree, with a thesis titled Socio-environmental dynamics of pineapple monoculture in Costa Rica. Her research examined the impact of pineapple monoculture on rural communities and its effects on local residents’ daily lives. Through this work, she helped bring greater attention to environmental issues within her field. Fluent in both Spanish and English, this will be Cris’s third summer leading Putney programs.