“My vision for success is a career where I collaborate with local organizations and build meaningful relationships with the communities they impact over time.”

Nayomi Cawthorne is a mission-driven professional dedicated to environmental sustainability, food security, and health equity. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State University in 2015, Nayomi has grown a career in urban agriculture and community development. Currently, she works as a consultant for the Catalyst Strategy Group, a consulting firm she co-founded to assist non-profits with developing strategies for maximum impact. She is also a steering committee member and research assistant at Participatory Action for Access to Clinical Trials, a project focused on increasing the participation of Black Americans in cancer clinical trials in Southeast Michigan. Beyond her current roles, Nayomi’s resume includes past leadership positions in community organizing, regenerative agriculture, and urban farming.

Nayomi returned to school in fall 2024 after nine years of professional development. She will earn a master’s degree in sustainability and development from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. An outstanding student by all accounts, Nayomi earned a 4.0 GPA in her first year. Inspired by her family’s experiences with health inequity, Nayomi decided to pursue a second master’s degree in health behavior and health equity from U-M’s School of Public Health. Nayomi juggles work and family responsibilities with her studies. Still, she is fueled by her resolve to address systemic inequities in environmental and health systems for her family, her community, and marginalized peoples worldwide.

Looking ahead, Nayomi envisions a career in philanthropy, partnering with grassroots organizations across the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa to develop innovative, sustainable solutions to interconnected climate and health challenges. Nayomi writes, “My vision for success is a career where I collaborate with local organizations and build meaningful relationships with the communities they impact over time.”

CEW+ celebrates Nayomi’s dedication to serving her community and names her a Margaret Dow Towsley Scholar.