VCN’s Environmental Leadership Fellowship program returns for its fourth year! This year, seven fellows will be working with VCN and partner organizations to advance Virginia’s conservation movement. 

As part of the VCN team, fellows will build hands-on experience and deepen their understanding of the conservation field through work in communications, grassroots organizing, policy research, event coordination, and beyond.

Growing up in Hawai‘i, Emily saw how the climate crisis (from coastal erosion to increasingly volatile weather patterns) was directly impacting the communities around her. At the same time, Hawai‘i’s ambitious transition to 100% renewable energy inspired her with a model of what bold, equitable climate action could look like — sparking her interest in energy policy as both a tool for environmental protection and a pathway for systemic equity. 

At Yale University, Emily is planning on pursuing a BA/MA in Political Science with a certificate in Energy Studies. Her projects focus on identifying strategies to accelerate clean energy investment and strengthen policy incentives for decarbonization. This summer, she will work with VCN to support the policy and economic rollout of green infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

Location: Honolulu, HI

Education: Rising junior at Yale University studying Political Science and Energy Studies

What is your favorite childhood memory? One of my favorite childhood memories is visiting Great Wolf Lodge with my family. My twin brother and I would run around the resort with our magic wands, opening treasure chests and completing quests together. It felt like we were in our own little world, full of adventure and imagination.

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? I write prose poetry and can speak four languages!

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? My most memorable trip was to Thailand with my high school friends. We explored the beautiful Koh Phi Phi islands and ate a lot of mangoes. As a historian at heart, I also learned about Thailand’s unique position as a nation that has never been colonized by European powers and its proximity to Myanmar with the onset of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution.

Growing up in Virginia Beach, Pooja developed a great fondness for the natural environment. In elementary school, she joined an oyster reef club to learn how to advocate for the Chesapeake Bay. She volunteered as a junior docent for the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science center throughout high school, educating visitors about marine life, environmental issues, and sustainable living. Reading works by great American environmentalists, such as Henry David Thoreau and Rachel Carson, also played a part in deepening her interest in environmental advocacy further.

At Virginia Tech, Pooja studies Environmental Policy & Planning and has worked on projects to tackle food waste in campus dining halls and fast fashion overconsumption and textile waste. This summer, she will be working under Fatima Kamara, VCN’s Land Use & Transportation Campaign & Policy Manager, to work on policy analysis and advocacy. Pooja will also be working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, helping them with organizing events, writing educational materials, and outreach.

Location: Virginia Beach, VA 

Education: Senior at Virginia Tech studying Environmental Policy & Planning!

What is your favorite childhood memory? Spending long summer days at the beach with my family. My sister and I were particularly partial to boogie boarding!

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? I know 3 languages and I have played the cello for 10+ years.

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to travel to many places, but my favorite place to visit is India! My parents are from Kerala, so I love getting to see my extended family; not to mention, it is very beautiful there. My last visit was 2 years ago and I can’t wait to go again!

Growing up on a farm in rural Oklahoma, Ren was constantly surrounded by the wonders of nature, but her passion for protecting our environment sparked after a 3-month road trip to over 20 national parks, where she fell in love with the complex blend of natural and built environments. This led her on the path of studying Urban Planning paired with Environmental Studies, where she learned how to combine geographic information systems analysis with ethical planning practices. Ren is passionate about disability accessibility in the urban and environmental field. She hopes to uplift the voices of this demographic through her research and future projects. 

This summer, Ren will be working under Brittney Beazley, VCN’s Director of Operations & Fundraising, to work on operations & fundraising projects. She will also be working with Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action, helping them promote environmental sustainability practices across Virginia’s health systems.

Location: Richmond, VA

Education: Rising Senior at VCU studying Urban Planning with a minor in Environmental Studies

What is your favorite childhood memory? My favorite childhood memory is spending summers with my grandparents in Georgia, working on carpentry and sewing projects! 

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? I like to believe that I make the world’s best spaghetti!

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? My most memorable trip was a 3-month U.S. road trip to 10 different states and over 20 national parks! My best friend, dog, and I traveled 11,533.8 miles in 96 days, completing hikes such as Angels Landing in Zion National Park and the Manitou Incline in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Gauri grew up as an avid environmentalist through tending her family vegetable garden, planting pollinator flowers, kayaking and hiking, climbing trees, being a vegetarian since birth, and overall spending time in the grass. Her love for the outdoors started at a very young age and has continued throughout her life, influencing her career path to become an environmental advocate and leader. Gauri is passionate about protecting the natural world for all creatures, not just the small number of people who are privileged enough to enjoy ‘wilderness’. She has been able to pursue sustainability and support environmental equity at UVA through her education and as a Sustainability Student Employee. Those who have benefited from the environment are not reaping the benefits, but instead they are bearing the brunt of the harmful effects; thus, Gauri wants to spend her career focusing on environmental justice for all! 

This summer, Gauri will be working with Lillian Anderson, VCN’s Director of Energy Programs, and the Community Climate Collaborative on projects involving energy efficiency and renewable energy equity.

Location: Richmond, VA

Education: Rising Senior at UVA pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.I.S. in Global Environments & Sustainability

What is your favorite childhood memory? Growing up, my family would go to our local arboretum any chance we got. In the springtime, when I was eight years old, the tadpoles began emerging in the arboretum ponds. Along with many other children, I was lying on the ground trying to catch a tadpole to see it up close. After a lot of waiting, I caught a huge bullfrog tadpole, which was just in time for a TV crew to arrive. I made my first TV appearance showing off my tadpole and releasing it back into the water!

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? I am surprisingly good at baking various kinds of desserts! I spent the isolation time during COVID perfecting my macaroon recipe.

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? Last summer, I studied abroad in Scandinavia, mainly in Copenhagen and throughout Sweden. I had the best time learning about sustainability in Scandinavia while getting to experience the food and culture. We even spent a week travelling to different national parks and marine laboratories in Sweden, which allowed me to immerse myself in the Swedish landscape!

Sophie’s appreciation for the Virginia outdoors began in her own backyard, where she spent countless hours exploring the creek behind her house. Each year, her favorite season was marked by the return of tadpoles—her absolute favorite to observe. The creek became a place of peace, a quiet escape from the noise of the world.

After taking a course on the evolving relationship between humans and nature over the past 200 years, Sophie was inspired to pursue a minor in Environmental Sustainability Studies. She hopes to combine her passion for the environment with her strengths in communication to advocate for meaningful environmental change after graduation.

This summer, Sophie is applying her classroom skills with Nicole Vaughan, VCN’s Director of Communications and Outreach, assisting VCN’s communications and outreach efforts. Sophie will also be working with Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, helping with event planning and community outreach.

Location: Richmond, VA

Education: I am entering my 3rd year at Elon University with a double major in strategic communications and media analytics and a minor in environmental sustainability studies.

What is your favorite childhood memory? During school holidays and weekends, I loved spending time at Lewis Ginter with my family. From live music events to picnics by the ponds, it was a favorite Richmond spot to explore. I especially loved wandering through the blooming gardens and visiting the butterfly exhibit in the conservatory. Those visits helped spark my appreciation for nature and the value of shared community spaces.

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? After 16 years of dancing, 6 of those on pointe, I have perfected moonwalking in pointe shoes!

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? This past spring break, I had the opportunity to spend the week on a vineyard and learn the intricate process behind wine production and distribution. I also gained insight into the environmental impact of the industry, from water usage and soil health to packaging waste. It was eye-opening to see how sustainable practices can make a meaningful difference.

Bailey’s passion for the environment began when she was a child living on the watershed. She would spend all summer at summer camp outside being bit by bugs and making great memories. She has always had an interest in animals and biology as well which led her to environmental studies. Having had experience doing a variety of outdoor activities led Bailey to advocate for equal opportunity within these spaces and environmental equity for all. In senior year of highschool, Bailey had the opportunity to go on an ecological research trip to Baja Mexico where she camped on the beach and got to touch and interact with whales. Seeing such amazing natural beauty solidified her passion for climate change and environmentalism. Fall 2024, Bailey completed the Student Outdoor Leadership Experience at VCU’s outdoor adventure program which gave her the opportunity to learn different leadership skills as well as some hard outdoor skills which have challenged her in new ways. Being active and outdoorsy as well as having a passion for the environment has really shaped Bailey into the person she is today and she hopes to carry that in her work with VCN as a fellow.

This summer, she will be working under Pat Calvert, VCN’s Director of Clean Water & Land Conservation Programs, supporting The Nature Conservancy and Our Virginia Outdoors on projects that highlight and uplift Virginia’s Great Outdoors. Bailey will also be working with Groundwork RVA, helping with communications and outreach efforts.

Location: Richmond, VA

Education: Rising junior at Virginia Commonwealth University studying environmental studies

What is your favorite childhood memory? When I visited Louisiana for the first time to meet my extended family, we went crawfishing and brought them home to eat!

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? I am classically trained in the Violin and played for 13 years!

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? Senior year of high school we had an opportunity to take an ecological trip to Baja Mexico to observe and interact with juvenile whales, create research projects, and camp on the beach! It was so beautiful and a great opportunity to interact with animals most people won’t ever see in their lifetime.

Driven by an enveloping appreciation for the natural beauty of her hometown, I-Kamilah was drawn to apply to the Virginia Conservation Network Environmental Leadership Fellowship. With a strong background in history and a deep-rooted love for her native Richmond community, I-Kamilah is passionate about exploring the intersections of environmental change and community resilience. I-Kamilah’s Academic journey has fueled a growing interest in how past land use, policy and cultural narratives shape present-day ecological challenges. Inspired by the landscapes she grew up in, I-Kamilah is eager to contribute to environmental work that honors both natural systems and the human stories tied to them. She is especially interested in community-based conservation, environmental justice, and climate adaptation. By bridging historical insight with ecological awareness, I-Kamilah hopes to help shape more informed and inclusive environmental futures.

This summer, she will be working under Mary Rafferty, VCN’s Executive Director, on grant writing and research-related projects. I-Kamilah will also be working with Partnership for Smarter Growth, helping them advocate for a sustainable Richmond Region.

Location: Richmond, VA

Education: Graduated VCU with a Bachelors of Arts in African American Studies and History

What is your favorite childhood memory? I-Kamilah’s favorite childhood memory encompasses riding bikes with her twin sister and grandfather around Richmond’s Battery Park. We would bike for hours and reward ourselves with cold sodas and grilled cheese sandwiches.

What’s a surprising talent or skill that you have? I am a dancer who is professionally trained in majorette baton twirling, step, contemporary and various methods as well as I am obsessed with European history and I speak German.

What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken and what made it special? My most memorable was my collegiate study abroad trip in Barbados. I was able to meet the prime minister and be featured in the local newspaper during my first few days on the island. It was a smorgasbord of fun, learning and beautiful scenery.