Our inaugural environmental fellowship kicked off this summer! Starting in January, VCN, in partnership with Progressive Pipeline, searched for and hired four paid summer fellows looking to launch their careers in Virginia’s conservation movement.

Our environmental fellows are working under the VCN team for six to eight weeks over the summer. The fellows are gaining invaluable experience by immersing themselves in a summer-long project designed specifically for their interests in either policy or outreach.

Meet VCN’s Environmental Fellows!

Jada Pender

Jada had previous experience in environmental policy as a fellow for our Partners at CCAN during the General Assembly session. She’s continuing her experience in policy under Wyatt Gordon, VCN’s Land Use & Transportation Policy Manager. Over the summer, Jada will work with Wyatt on a proposal to improve public transit in Hampton by identifying issues; researching Hampton’s transit audience; and talking with transit riders, stakeholders, and board members.

Location: Hampton

Education: Hampton University – I’m a rising senior majoring in Political Science and I’m considering GMU’s Master’s in Conflict Analysis & Research.

Childhood Dream Job: I wanted to be a vet. I love animals and grew up with a dog, turtles, and lizards – I love all animals. But in the end, I realized I didn’t want to pursue science as a study.

What is your superpower?: Super-Focus! I’m great at blocking everything out and focusing on the task at hand.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be?: Mind-reading.

What’s something you’re obsessed with right now? Re-watching my old favorite, “comfort” TV shows like Law and Order SUV and Teen Titans Go.

McKenna Dunbar at the VCN Office

McKenna Dunbar

McKenna has worked with our Partners at the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter to lead the Building & Home Electrification team. To further build her experience with energy policy, McKenna is supplementing this experience by working with Narissa Turner, VCN’s Climate & Energy Policy Manager. With Narissa, McKenna will work closely with VCN’s Energy Workgroup to learn the ins and outs of Virginia’s energy policy.

Location: Richmond

Education: University of Richmond – I switched from Biochemistry to a double major in Environmental Studies and Business Administration with a focus in International Business.

Childhood Dream Job: Intellectual Property Attorney (very specific!). I wanted to be a lawyer since the 6th grade.

What is your superpower?: Taking problems and making them opportunities. I like being challenged and problem-solving.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be?: Teleporting – it would solve our climate crisis!

What’s something you’re obsessed with right now? My friends would say electrification – I talk about it all the time; the idea of converting our entire grid system from fossil fuels to renewable energy is cool.

Andreana J. Lin

This summer, Andreana is running two grassroots outreach programs under Kyle Gatlin, VCN’s Partner Resources Manager. Andreana is hosting our Summer Speaker Series, a weekly lunch-n-learn for interns and fellows of VCN’s Partner organizations featuring a variety of environmental leaders as guest speakers. Andreana is also launching a Grassroots Education Series, which will include trainings on “The Role of Art in Environmental Advocacy” and “Inspiring Action with Powerful Language.”

Location: Alexandria

Education: I just graduated from George Mason University with a Creative Writing major and a double minor in Conservation Studies and Professional & Technical Writing.

Childhood Dream Job: Artist or Nurse.

What is your superpower?: I’m good at organizing people, so my superpower would be brainwashing. I’d use it to get the President to come to my events AND bring snacks!

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be?: Telekinesis or manifest (which we had to look up!).

What’s something you’re obsessed with right now? Break dancing and birdwatching… but not at the same time!

Cheyenne Johnson

Cheyenne Johnson

In her Master’s of Social Work program, Cheyenne focuses on how policy affects social work in the United States. Working under Andrew Perrow, VCN’s Civic Engagement & Outreach Manager, she will build on our advocacy work as a nonprofit organization.

Location: Richmond

Education: Virginia Commonwealth University – I’m enrolled in the Master of Social Work program.

Childhood Dream Job: I had a stint as a child model, which led me to want to act. Ironically, I was so taken by an actress playing the role of a math professor that my dream job changed to being a math professor! (we’re very curious what movie this was!)

What is your superpower?: I’m a good communicator, so my superpower would be the ability to speak any language.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be?: Having a magic bike that you can ride anywhere and on anything, even on water or potentially fly!

What’s something you’re obsessed with right now? My flowers – I’m trying my hand at flowers that are notoriously finicky, and I’m excited that they’re actually doing very well!