For the final three weeks of the program, the fellows focus on a collaborative practicum, designed to meet their expressed skills and interests. Each group of fellows is mentored by a PEC staff person or a professional from one of PEC’s many partner organizations. At the end of the final week, the fellows present their work to PEC’s staff and board of directors via Google Meet.
2021 Practicum Presentations
Landscapes of Memory: Documenting and Preserving Community and Family Cemeteries in the Virginia Piedmont
Fellows: Julia Rankin and Samantha Grossman
Mentor: Kristie Kendall
Invasives in Your Yard: A Homeowners Guide to Invasive Plants
Fellows: Lauren Taylor and Lauren Hutchison
Mentors: Gem Bingol, Julie Bolthouse, Marco Sanchez, and Sophia Chapin
Campaigning for BRT: Route 7 and Sustainable Equity
Fellows: Alberto Della Torre and Annie Price
Mentors: Stewart Schwartz and Douglas Stewart
StoryMapping the Threat of Data Center Development in PWC’s Rural Crescent
Fellow: Anelyse Regelbrugge
Mentors: Julie Bolthouse, Hugh Kenny, Gem Bingol, and Watsun Randolph
Environmental Justice in the Virginia Piedmont and Beyond
Fellows: Simon Willig, M.H. Chau, Diamond McAllister
Mentors: Tiffany Parker and Watsun Randolph
Energy Efficiency Update
Fellows: Thomas Jackson and Carly Harris
Mentors: Bri West and Sophia Chapin
Restoring Bolton Branch
Fellows: Janis Arrojado and Liam Dolan
Mentor: Claire Catlett
2020 Practicum Presentations
50 Years of Scenic River Protection in the Piedmont: A StoryMap
Fellows: Meredith Hickman and David Malcolm
Mentors: Kat Imhoff, Hugh Kenny, John McCarthy, and Watsun Randolph
Warrenton’s Vacant Land
Fellows: Clio Bate, Savannah Hall, and Colin Gates
Mentors: Dan Holmes, Julie Bolthouse, and Watsun Randolph
Racial Inequity and Outdoor Spaces: A Case Study on PEC’s Conserved Lands
Fellows: Ben Fernando and Rebecca Topness
Mentors: Celia Vuocolo and Marco Sánchez
Carbon Offset: A Dive into PEC’s Carbon Footprint
Fellows: Wade Ebert and Isabel Lisle
Mentors: Chris Miller and Chris Hawk
Planting Native: benefits and testimonies that will make you garden differently
Fellows: Gabriella Creeser and Trinity Mills
Mentors: Gem Bingol, Celia Vuocolo, and Bri West
2019 Practicum Presentations
Carbon Sequestration in the Piedmont’s Grasslands
Fellows: Emily Dalton and Jake Nicastro
Mentor: Mike Kane
Collaborative Conservation in the Blue Ridge Region
Fellows: Kaitlin King and Nell Pearson
Mentor: Tracy Lind
Barriers to Solar Generation in Virginia: A Podcast
Fellows: Ariel Gans and Philip Pericak
Mentors: Dan Holmes and Bri West
Recognizing Unconventional Agricultural Practices in the Piedmont
Fellows: Katie Schmidtmann and Molly Cullen
Mentor: Tracy Lind
PEC Brings Back the Brook Trout
Fellows: Annabelle Stanley and Merissa Shebell
Mentors: Claire Catlett and Celia Vuocolo
Assessing the Impacts of Vehicle Crossings on Blue Ridge Trout Streams: Rappahannock & Madison, VA
Fellows: George Castillo and Ben Landolt
Mentor: Claire Catlett
2018 Practicum Presentations
Honoring Local Heritage: Uncovering Historic Sites in the Blue Ridge
Fellows: Chloe Harris and MacKenzie Earl
Mentor: Kristie Kendall
Watershed Warriors
Fellows: Evan Raskin and Celeste Wilson
Mentors: Julie Bolthouse and Claire Catlett
Make Some Noise About Noise Pollution
Fellows: Tess Kendrick and Libby Truitt
Mentor: Dan Holmes
Spaces Worth Saving, Areas for Affordability: The Intersection of the Conservation Movement and the Affordable Housing Crisis in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia
Fellows: Isobel Lingenfelter and Megan Routbort
Mentor: Dan Holmes
Arachnids, Ailanthus and ArcGIS: Invasive Species Mapping at the Clifton Institute
Fellows: Ganon Hingst and Julia Stinson Ebert
Mentors: Dr. Bert Harris and Dr. Eleanor Harris
Podcast – Preservation Politics
Fellows: Zachary Harris and Daniel Kim
Mentor: Sean Tubbs
2017 Practicum Presentations
Shadow of Shenandoah: A PEC Fellows Podcast
Fellows: Andrew Olive and Jacquelyn Smith
Mentor: Kristie Kendall
Trout Monitoring Protocols for the Upper Rappahannock
Fellows: Dana Ek and Callee Manna
Mentors: Claire Catlett and Peter Hujik
Historic and Non-Historic Property Values in Charlottesville and Albemarle
Fellows: Abigail Chan and Kate Moody
Mentor: Jeff Werner
Josh McGhee and Drake Starling
Fellows: Josh McGhee and Drake Starling
Mentor: Julie Bolthouse and Dan Holmes
Data Centers and Energy Consumption
Fellows: Emma Will and Shayne Willette
Mentor: Rob Marmet
Reviving Small Town U.S.A.
Fellows: Quyen Ha and Harrison Premen
Mentors: Paula Combs and Dan Holmes
2016 Practicum Presentations
An Assessment of the Pollinating Insect Population Gilbert’s Corner
Fellows: Mary Collins and Victor Lau
Mentor: Celia Vuocolo
Enhancing Public Access to the Rapidan River
Fellows: Eliot Berz and Haley Wilbanks
Mentors: Peter Hujik and Dan Holmes
Residential Solar in PEC’s Nine Counties: Emily and Liam’s Fantastic Adventure through County Government
Fellows: Liam McAuliff and Emily Onufer
Mentor: Bri West
The Piedmont Environmental Council: An Oral History
Fellows: Amanda Bengston and Joel Carver
Mentor: Karen Hunsberger
An Inventory of Historic Bridges In The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Service District
Fellows: Eric Teller and Anne Wilcosky
Mentor: Kristie Kendall
Improving Transit Oriented Development: A Greener, More Connected Loudoun County
Fellows: Amanda Demmerle and Anne Weidhaas
Mentors: Stewart Schwartz and Gem Bingol
2015 Fellowship Presentations
Exploring Property Value Change in the Piedmont
Fellows: William DeCesare and Kori Goldberg
Mentor: Jeff Werner
Restoring Brook Trout Habitat in the Piedmont
Fellows: Michael Carter and Nicholas Wells
Mentors: Carolyn Sedgwick, Watsun Randolph, and Jonathan Marquisee
Millennials for the PEC: Securing the Future for the Piedmont Environmental Council through the Incorporation of the Millennial Generation
Fellows: Chantal Madray and Caitlin McCarthy
Mentors: Maggi MacQuilliam, Marco Sanchez, Jess Palmer & Bri West
Updating the Loudoun Outdoors Guide
Fellows: Silas Domy and Andrea Levy
Mentor: Mike Kane
Visualizing Stewardship–A Photographic Library of Good Land Management Practices
Fellows: Claudia Elzey and Kendall Grannis
Mentors: Gem Bingol and Maggi MacQuilliam
Morrison Ruins Preservation and Interpretive Plan–Restoration of Historic Ruins on Jim Northup’s Property (Superintendent of Shenandoah National Park)
Fellows: Rachel Earnhardt and Joseph Mutter
Mentor: Kristie Kendall
2014 Fellowship Presentations
Farmer Chef Express Website-Developing Their Gleaning and Surplus Program
Fellows: Lauren Faccinto (San Anselmo, CA / Kenyon College: Sociology and Environmental Studies) and Hannah Itzler
(Ft. Lauderdale, FL, University of Florida: Sustainability and the Built Environment
Mentor: Jess Palmer
Social Media Outreach Series and Fellowship Promotion
Fellows: Chelsea Johnson (Avon, IN / Lawrence University: Environmental Studies with Policy Focus) and Susanna Kirschner (Richmond, VA / University of Mary Washington: Environmental Science)
Mentor: Marco Sanchez
Strengthening What We Already Protect: Updating Easements in the Cromwell’s Run and South Fork Rivanna Watersheds
Fellows: Laurel Abowd (Glenmont, NY / University of Virginia: Environmental Sciences) and Natalie Sheffield
(Charlottesville, VA / College of William and Mary: Environmental Science and Policy, English)
Mentors: Heather Richards and Maggi MacQuilliam
Assessing Stream Water and Habitat Quality at Gilbert’s Corner
Fellows: Michael Ament (DePere, WI / University of Michigan: Environmental Science and Anthropology) and Preston White (Bealton, VA / James Madison University: Integrated Science and Technology)
Mentors: Gem Bingol and Mike Kane
A Green Infrastructure Schematic (Vision) for the Piedmont
Brian Stark Godfrey (Charlotte, NC / University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Political Science and Geography) and Peter Klemz (Manassas, VA / Virginia Tech: Public and Urban Affairs)
Mentors: Dan Holmes, Watsun Randolph, Jonathan Marquisee
EPA Clean Power Plan as it Applies to Virginia
Alexa White (Riverhead, NY / University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Environmental Science) and Samuel Zacher (Columbus, OH / University of Chicago: Environmental Studies and Economics)
Mentor: Rob Marmet
2013 Fellowship Practicum Topics
A Portfolio of Smart Growth Features: Illustrating Powerful Land Use Concepts
Fellow: Meredyth Sanders (Vienna, VA / University of Virginia: Urban & Environmental Planning, Minor in Environmental Science)
Mentor: Katherine Vance
A Guide to Sustainable NoMA
Fellow: Mathew Smead (Chapel Hill, NC / University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Environmental Science, Minor in Geography)
Mentor: Galin Brooks, NoMa BID
The Fauquier County Outdoors Guide
Fellow: Julia Bridstrup (Warrenton, VA / University of Virginia: Environmental Science, Minor in Anthropology)
Mentor: Julie Bolthouse
Trail Mapping in the PEC Region
Henry Bell (Oak Grove, MN / Middlebury College: Joint Major in Geography & Environmental Studies, Minor in Spanish)
Mentor: Watsun Randolph
High School Lesson Plans on Land Use and Environmental Planning
Fellow: Melissa Andrews (Carlisle, MA / University of Pennsylvania School of Design: Master of City Planning – Land Use & Environmental Planning Haverford College: Growth and Structure of Cities, Minor in East Asian Studies)
Mentor: Leslie Ziegler, Highland School
Conservation Stories of Virginia
Fellow: Caroline Massie (Rappahannock, VA / University of Virginia: English, American Studies, Minor in Media Studies)
Mentor: Kristie Kendall
The Outer Beltway: We Can Have it All
Terry Chen (Winchester, MA / University of California Los Angeles: Environmental Science, Minors in Geography & Environmental Studies)
Mentor: Bri West
The Charlottesville Western Bypass: A Case Study of Water Quality Regulations and Their Role in Virginia Transporation Projects
Fellow: Rachel Locke (Arlington, VA / University of Virginia: Environmental Thought & Practice, Leadership & Public Policy)
Mentor: Diana Norris
Outreach Efforts to Improve Water Quality in the Shenandoah River
Fellow: Robert Stuart (Edinburg, VA / University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: Masters in Natural Resources Virginia Tech: Horticulture)
Mentor: Shenandoah Riverkeepers, Jennifer Keck
The Viability of Biofuels as a Replacement for Fossil Fuels
Fellow: Sarah Wheatley (Rappahannock, VA / Mount Holyoke College: Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Geoscience)
Mentor: Sue Ellen Johnson and David Wheatley, Pilot
An Intimate Look at Farms and Food: Outreach for PEC’S Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign
Fellow: Charlotte Rodina (Manassas, VA / University of Mary Washington: English)
Mentor: Jessica Palmer
2012 Fellowship Presentations
Farmers Markets and Outreach to Low-Income Populations
Louise Searle (Fredericksburg, VA / Randolph College: Environmental Studies, Minors in American Culture & Sociology)
Mentor: Sue Ellen Johnson, PEC
Assessment of Environmentally-Responsible Practices at the Airlie Conference Center
Fellow: Spencer Middleton (Stillwater, MN / Evergreen State College: Human Ecology)
Mentor: Breanna Detwiler, Environmental Policy Coordinator and Assistant to the President, Airlie Conference Center
Outreach to the General Public on Black Bear Management in the Piedmont
Fellow: Mindy Bridges (Denver, CO / University of Colorado Boulder: Anthropology & Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Certificate in Peace & Conflict Studies)
Mentor: Tom Wood, Director, Environmental Studies on the Piedmont
The Legal Guide to Farming
Fellow: Matthew P. Castelli (Egg Harbor, NJ / University of Richmond: Biology and Indiana University Maurer School of Law)
Mentors: Sue Ellen Johnson & Diana Norris, PEC
Historic Assessment of the James City Property in Madison County: Making the Case for Preservation
Fellow: Jocelyn Friedman (Mount Kisco, NY / Carleton College: American History, Minor in European Studies)
Mentors: Kristie Kendall & Beth Burnam, PEC
Access Management Along Route 29: An Intersection-Scale Analysis
Andrew Pericak (Charlottesville, VA / University of Richmond: Environmental Studies & Geography, Minor in Music)
Mentor: Jeff Werner, PEC
Stream Habitat Study and Outreach in the Long Branch Watershed
Fellow: Susan E. O’Neill (Leesburg, VA / Central Washington University: Biology with a Minor in Chemistry
University of Washington: Certificate in Environmental Law & Regulation)
Mentor: Gem Bingol, PEC
Business Models for Community-Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and Urban Rooftop Gardening
Fellow: Brian C. Sproul (Chicago, IL / University of Oregon School of Law: Environmental & Natural Resource Law)
Mentor: Pablo Elliot, Stoney Lonesome Farm
New/Green Urbanism Developments in the D.C. Suburbs
Fellow: Erin B. Pierce (Clifton, VA / James Madison University: Political Science, Minors in Environmental Studies & Sociology)
Mentor: Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Habitat Corridor Management By Private Landowners
Fellow: Katharine M. Chute (Wayzata, MN / Harvard: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Minor in Government and
University of MN, Duluth: Environmental Education)
Mentor: James Barnes, PEC
Guide to Rural and Agricultural Life for New Residents
Fellow: Jeremy J. Rothwell (Chesapeake City, MD / Washington College: Political Science & History and University of Delaware: Masters in Urban Affairs & Public Policy)
Mentors: Sue Ellen Johnson & Bri West, PEC
Assessing the Availability of Native and Invasive Plants in Nurseries Across the PEC Region
Fellow: Morgan R. Carter (Millwood, VA / University of Mississippi: Public Policy Leadership, Minors in Environmental Studies and Business)
Mentor: James Barnes, PEC
Learn more at www.pecva.org/fellowship