Rhian Reyes graduated from the CSUSB History Department in the summer of 2023 and by January of 2025, she was speaking at the White House with national leaders and environmental stewards in the work to preserve our natural world.

In the weeks after graduation, Reyes notes, "I was looking for work when I was emailed by the university's career center stating that Audubon CA was hiring interns to get involved in the campaign to establish Chuckwalla National Monument. I quickly applied and by September 2023, I was giving a speech at the Chuckwalla National Monument Campaign Launch and introducing Congressman Raul Ruiz, the congressional champion of the monument. From there, I interned with the Mojave Desert Land Trust before being hired full time as a Campaign Organizer for Audubon California. I worked diligently on the monument campaign by getting business letters of support and doing outreach in the community to gain broad support for the monument. I played an instrumental role in the Chuckwalla National Monument listening session last May hosted by former Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, and the public meeting hosted by the Department of the Interior in June 2024. Due to this work in community outreach and organizing, as well as my experience with public speaking, the White House staff at the Council on Environmental Quality reached out to me asking if I would give a speech and introduce former President Biden at the signing of the Chuckwalla National Monument proclamation."

In her speech, Reyes noted the natural beauty and the scientific value of the Coachella Valley, and her journey to learn to appreciate it, engage with it, and begin working to protect it. She found empowerment in her conservation journey and learning what was required in the work to help protect Chuckwalla. Reyes praised her allies in the work, including Congressman Ruiz, Senator Alex Padilla, Secretary Haaland, and finally, the leadership of President Joe Biden, whom she graciously introduced to the enthusiastic crowd gathered at the White House. At the urging of passionate advocates and environmental stewards like Rhian Reyes and Secretary Haaland, President Biden protected 644,000 acres in the Chuckwalla National Monument, south of Joshua Tree National Park. These lands are now protected from mining  and drilling, adding to the 674 million acres of public lands and federal waters that President Biden protected during his presidency, more than any other US President.