Splash Biography

ELIZABETH JOHNSTONE, ESP Teacher

Major: Public and International Affairs

College/Employer: Princeton

Year of Graduation: 2028

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Elizabeth Johnstone is interested in understanding the intersection between environmental advocacy, education, and faith to help create more just, sustainable, and connected communities. A student at Princeton University, she serves as an EcoRep for the Office of Sustainability, working to integrate sustainability into student life on campus. Elizabeth has served as an Independent Policy Researcher for Heal the Bay, where she analyzed water efficiency ordinances, and as a Policy Intern for MoveLA, where she supported transit equity initiatives.

Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Elizabeth is passionate about how faith communities can be epicenters of environmental action. At her home parish—St. Monica Catholic Community—she served as the Director of Logistics for the Green Team, co-directing the annual youth environmental summit and leading key food waste reduction initiatives.

Elizabeth enjoys singing with the Princeton University Chapel Choir and playing piano and organ. She can't wait to return to her hometown of Santa Monica, CA and spend a day at the beach.

Past Classes

(Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

Z884: Holy Ground: Examining the Relationship Between Christianity and Ecology in Splash Spring 2025 (Apr. 12, 2025)

Is Christianity a justification for subduing land—or a call to care for creation? Guided by analysis of key texts, this seminar explores Biblical, theological, and Indigenous perspectives on ecology. Key topics include dominion and stewardship in Genesis, animism in Indigenous tradition, and contemporary anthropocentrism. Students will analyze texts like Genesis, Lynn White Jr.’s "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis," Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, and Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’. Through discussion and close reading, students will evaluate how Christian values affirm or complicate the modern environmental movement. This class fosters analytical skills in a supportive, low-stakes setting.

Z885: Canons in the Crypt: Beginner–Intermediate in Splash Spring 2025 (Apr. 12, 2025)

Join us to sing rounds in a casual setting! This course is a low-stress environment intended for beginner and early intermediate singers and musicians. Students will learn basic musicianship skills, including active listening and basic sight-reading. Come sing with us!

Z886: Canons in the Crypt: Intermediate–Advanced in Splash Spring 2025 (Apr. 12, 2025)

Join us to sing rounds in a casual setting! This course is a low-stress environment intended for intermediate and advanced singers seeking to improve their sight-reading, ear training, and choral singing skills. Come sing with us!