Kristina Comley Washer, an accomplished environmental scientist, passionate ornithologist, and scholar, died on June 9, 2025, at the age of 30. As a researcher and valued member of the scientific community, Kristina embodied the highest standards of academic inquiry, fieldwork, and environmental stewardship.
A graduate student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts University, Kristina was the recipient of the Hanes Endowed Fellowship in Environmental Health for her advanced research in pollution mitigation and environmental health. Her studies examined the relationship between ecological damage and human well-being, revealing her commitment to science that served both people and planet.
Kristina’s scientific career was grounded in the field of ornithology. As a Fulbright Fellow at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galápagos Islands, she studied the conservation of Darwin’s finches, combining fieldwork with volunteer training and data collection. Fluent in Spanish, Kristina was equally comfortable in the field and in international research collaborations, bringing empathy and precision to her work.
She also studied the ecological legacy of the dodo’s extinction in Mauritius, contributing to the preservation of endemic species. Her fieldwork took her from the Atlantic coast in Bald Head Island Conservancy to the prairie grasslands of Kansas, where she tracked nesting birds and trained assistants in behavioral ecology.
In the United States, she worked at the New England Wildlife Center and Emporia State University, combining research with mentoring and outreach. Her ability to identify birds by sight and sound was matched by her dedication to teaching others the same skills, ensuring that knowledge would be shared with the next generation of scientists.
Kristina’s work was guided by a belief: that environmental research must be grounded in action, inclusion, and integrity. Whether diving for samples, restoring native habitat, or advocating for environmental justice, she brought a unique combination of intellect, humility, and compassion to every endeavor.
Kristina’s untimely death is a loss to the academic and scientific communities. Her legacy will live on in the field studies she led, the students she mentored, and the ecosystems she helped protect. Kristina Washer’s life is a reminder that meaningful science can be local and global, personal and political.
We remember Kristina not only for what she achieved, but for the values she embodied-curiosity, care, and commitment. She leaves behind an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire researchers, students, and conservationists for years to come.
