About Kamryn:

Kamryn Zachek is a driven and accomplished senior at the University of New Mexico, majoring in Economics and Philosophy, and a proud Regents Scholar in her final semester of undergraduate studies. As a pre-law student, Kamryn has a clear vision for her future, planning to gain more legal work experience before pursuing law school. With aspirations to eventually pursue a judgeship, Kamryn’s academic and extracurricular pursuits reflect her dedication to justice, policy, and legal advocacy. 

Currently serving as the Vice President of the Pre-Law Society at UNM, Kamryn plays a key role in providing aspiring law students with the resources and guidance they need to succeed in their journey to law school. The Pre-Law Society has been an essential platform for Kamryn to foster community among pre-law students and help them navigate the path ahead. 

Kamryn’s academic journey has been marked by her commitment to research and leadership. In her freshman year, she published a paper in Chapman University’s Undergraduate Law Review, which focused on the use of restorative justice in the case of the destruction of the obelisk in Santa Fe on Indigenous People’s Day in 2021. This early achievement exemplifies Kamryn’s ability to connect her legal interests with real-world issues and demonstrates her passion for using the law to address societal challenges. 

Kamryn is also deeply involved in the Grand Challenges Climate Science Communication Fellowship, where she has served as the student lead for the past three years. The Fellowship pairs students with mentors involved in climate science research, allowing them to create communication projects based on their mentors' work. Kamryn’s leadership in this program has been instrumental in recruiting students, guiding them through their projects, and coordinating final presentations. As a participant in the program during her freshman year, Kamryn worked on a project to raise awareness about the need for comprehensive conservation strategies for the middle bosque. Her commitment to the Fellowship continues as she works to create a lasting impact on students and their confidence in research, an effort that has resulted in a published paper at the ASEE Conference 2024. Kamryn is now working on submitting a final iteration of her research to an academic journal. 

Beyond her work in law and climate science, Kamryn has made meaningful contributions to the Regents Scholars community. During her freshman and sophomore years, she was on the student board of Regents Scholars, where she played an active role in planning events to strengthen the student community. Kamryn’s passion for creating spaces where students can connect and build friendships stems from her own experience in her first year at UNM, when she struggled to make connections. Recognizing the importance of social opportunities in alleviating the stress of college life, Kamryn continues to be involved in planning events and supporting the Regents community. 

Kamryn’s exceptional leadership, academic achievements, and dedication to her peers have earned her praise from her nominators. Dean Donovan describes Kamryn as “an outstanding honors student, who has excellent academic experience and is highly involved in many areas of campus life.” Kamryn Zachek’s commitment to justice, policy, and community building leaves a lasting legacy at UNM, and her future in law is sure to be as impactful as her undergraduate career.