Zachary Billot, from Las Vegas Nevada, majored in Political Science and minored in Public Policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is a Truman Scholar, a First UNLV Udall Scholar, a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow, a UNLV Outstanding Graduate and Lavender Commencement Speaker, a State Department Intern, a UNLV Climate Action Plan Founder, and a recipient of the Lance and Elena Calvert Outstanding Research Award. At UNLV, he built Nevada’s first higher education Climate Action Plan which established a roadmap for over $100 million in climate investments and significant policy changes. Zachary also authored legislation that funded an industrial composter to process campus food waste and implemented one of the first university plastic bag bans. He is involved with the California Climate Action Corps Fellow for San Diego Bird Alliance and conducts research for the International Organization Project and African Presidential Politics Project. Zachary is also a violinist of 11 years and orchestral ensemble plays an important role in connecting him with people and culture from around the world.

As a Marshall Scholar, Zachary will study Environmental Protection and Management as well as Global Environment, Politics, and Society at the University of Edinburgh. He hopes to work in international wildlife policy.