Tyler is dedicated to ensuring others have access to mentorship and support.

Tyler Bunday is currently pursuing a masters in environmental justice and ecosystem science and management at the University of Michigan, where he works to advocate for food sovereignty and agroecological resilience. For his capstone project, Tyler conducted field research in Puerto Rico focused on natural pest control methods, conservation of native species, and the expansion of farmer solidarity networks. This project not only strengthens biodiversity but also empowers local farmers by supporting self-sufficiency and food sovereignty in the region.

Tyler’s commitment to community-driven sustainability was first sparked during an internship with a California-based nonprofit, where he worked alongside a smallholder farmer in Nigeria to develop strategies for financial stability and long-term growth. That experience revealed the power of agroecology to strengthen livelihoods while protecting ecosystems, and it set the trajectory for his future work. Afterward, he spent more than five years as an engineer at PG&E, gaining stability in the face of financial insecurity and supporting both his fiancé through the start of medical school and his mother after retirement. These years taught him resilience, responsibility, and the value of aligning professional work with personal commitments to equity and care.

As a first-generation college graduate and the first in his family to pursue graduate education, Tyler is dedicated to ensuring others have access to mentorship and support. At U-M’s School of Environment and Sustainability, he has found community through the Next-Gen Scholars program and now serves as a peer advisor for incoming students.

After graduation, Tyler envisions a career working alongside smallholder farmers and Indigenous communities to transition away from chemically intensive practices and toward diverse, resilient agroecosystems. By centering justice, sovereignty, and biodiversity, Tyler aims to create governance and farming systems that foster a future of sustainability.

CEW+ recognizes Tyler’s hard work and commitment to environmental sustainability and names him a Luera-Apgar Sustainability Scholar.