Anya Aponte

Anya was born in Puerto Rico and moved to North Carolina as a teenager. She attended North Carolina State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, Anya moved to DeKalb, IL to pursue a Master of Science in Meteorology at Northern Illinois University. She successfully defended her thesis titled, “Convective modes associated with precipitation exceeding postfire debris flow thresholds in the southwestern United States” in April 2025. Following her thesis defense, Anya joined a research project investigating hail-producing storms, spending six weeks in the field across the Great Plains to collect observational data. In her free time, Anya enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, and swimming in Lake Michigan.