2019-2020 Interns

Our 2019-2020 student interns, arranged by the branch of sustainability their team will be focusing on at Virginia Tech:

Energy Team

Emily Vollmer
Energy Team (Lead)

Emily Vollmer — Emily Vollmer is a Senior majoring in Environmental Resource Management with minors in Sustainable Natural Environments, Forestry, and GIS. This is her third year as an intern on the Energy Team. Emily wants to encourage students to be more aware of their energy use and the ways they can save energy on and off campus.

Erica Schermerhorn
Energy Team (Communications Representative)

Erica Schermerhorn — Erica Schermerhorn is a Senior majoring in Environmental Informatics with minors in Computer Science and GIS. She is excited to be a member of the Energy Team and a communications representative and looks forward to being able to help students put their energy-saving ideas into action!

Heidi Hahn
Energy Team

Heidi Hahn — Heidi Hahn is a sophomore at Virginia Tech, majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning and minoring in Green Engineering. Heidi loves the environment because of her love for nature and energy. She is an EMT with Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, a rescue scuba diver, trained in extrication, involved in Search and Rescue, and Swiftwater Rescue. Next semester, Heidi will be president of Environmental Student Organization and the Social Media Coordinator for the Environmental Coalition. Sustainability is important to Heidi because she believes that we should strive for better health and a better future.

Jimmy McAvoy
Energy Team

Jimmy McAvoy — Jimmy McAvoy is a junior studying Electrical Engineering with a minor in Smart and Sustainable Cities. He is excited to be a member of the energy team, especially after being interested in renewable energy from a young age. In his free time, Jimmy loves to get outside, play sports with friends, and (occasionally) watch Yes Theory on YouTube.

Katie Hillis
Energy Team

Katie Hillis — Katie Hillis is a Senior majoring in Smart and Sustainable Cities with a minor in Environmental Policy and Planning. With her love for the environment and clean living, she hopes to share her passions with the Virginia Tech community, and she looks forward to working with the Energy Team to promote efficient, sustainable, and environmentally conscious practices.

Waste Team

Amy Klinger
Waste Team (Lead)

Amy Klinger — Amy Klinger is a senior majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Chemistry and Sustainable Natural Environments. Her passion for sustainability revolves around the topic of reducing waste production. When she thinks of reducing waste, she have 2 main goals in mind. The first one is removing all waste from natural landscapes to ensure ecosystems are able to thrive. The second is implementing the use of materials that are less harmful to the environment that have the capability to decompose quickly unlike conventional materials like plastic.

Taylor Bush
Waste Team (Communications Representative)

Taylor Bush — Taylor Nicole Bush is a third year student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is currently studying Fashion Merchandising & Design and Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Pathways to Sustainability. She aspires to be an eco-friendly designer, and feels that it is within her social responsibility to help change the fashion industry for the benefit of the world and all those who inhabit this place. She believes everyone from all backgrounds and interests can find a way to make a change. To her, sustainability is an all encompassing issue that directly effects every life. It is pertinent that we take measures on both a large and small scale to revert the current environmental problems we face.

Kelly Graff
Waste Team

Kelly Graff — Kelly Graff is a junior studying Biological Systems Engineering with a minor in Green Engineering who has interests in environmental sustainability and renewable energy. While at Virginia Tech, Kelly has had the opportunity to participate in a range of research opportunities spanning from Biophysics, studying a model for brain synapses, to within her major's department, studying the effects microorganisms have on cow manure decomposition. Additionally, this past summer she had the opportunity to work with a stream and wetland restoration company in Charlottesville called Ecosystem Services. While fascinated by many topics, issues surrounding the environment have always interested her which is why she was drawn to the Office of Sustainability Internship Program. She believes that sustainability is something that can be taught to everyone, and even small, conscious habits people can integrate into their everyday lives can lead to a much happier and healthier planet. Kelly will be a part of the Waste Team for the 2019-2020 school year.

Kate Lord
Waste Team

Kate Lord — Kate Lord is a sophomore majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering with an intended minor in Green Engineering. Kate grew up in Hurley, New York with not much to do besides hike and explore the outdoors. This has made Kate extremely passionate about environmental sustainability and conservation efforts. Kate hopes to pursue a career working with water resources and improving water quality in less developed countries while focusing on sustainability and environmental health.

Siddhant Kekal
Waste Team

Siddhant Kekal — Siddhant is a Junior majoring in Industrial & Systems Engineering with a Green Engineering minor. Siddhant will be a member of the waste team. Sustainability to him, comes down to making thoughtful use of our resources in a manner that provides for our future, while preserving the environment. Siddhant is eager to work with people who share his passion for sustainability, and hope to encourage more Hokies to adopt sustainable practices in their everyday lives.

Water Team

Allison Mitchell
Water Team (Lead)

Allison Mitchell — Allison Mitchell is a Meteorology and Geography double major with a minor in GIS. Outside of the Office of Sustainability, she is president of Geographic Society and involved with the Honors College. Allison is passionate about sustainable water resource management and global water insecurity.

Nicole Luxford
Water Team (Communications Representative)

Nicole Luxford — Nicole Luxford is a Senior majoring in Environmental Resource Management with a minor in Environmental Policy and Planning. She serves as Communications Representative for the Water Team and is eager to help inspire her campus and community to live more sustainably.

Lily Michaud
Water Team

Lily Michaud — Lily is a Senior majoring in Water: Resources, Policy, and Management and is very excited to join the team of sustainability office interns this year. Lily is very passionate about the sustainable management of water resources and is excited to work with the water team to bring those passions to Virginia Tech’s campus. She believes working towards sustainability is very important on both big and small scales because every little bit makes a big difference.

Laura Keisel
Water Team

Laura Kiesel — Laura Kiesel is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning. Laura loves spending time outdoors, whether that be hiking, playing tennis, or hammocking! Sustainability is a big part of her life and she hopes to encourage others to implement sustainable practices into their daily routine, so as to better help fight the detrimental effects our actions have on the planet.

Julie Swann
Water Team

Julie Swann — Julie Swann is a senior majoring in Smart and Sustainable Cities. She is very passionate about sustainable practices to create a healthier built environment for us and future generations. She is excited be apart of the water team this 2019-2020 academic year.

Food Team

Sami Livingston
Food Team (Lead)

Sami Livingston — Sami Livingston is a Senior majoring in Wildlife Conservation with a minor in Sustainable Natural Environments. She serves as the leader of the Food Team and is looking forward to contributing to apparent, sustainable change on campus and in the Blacksburg Community. She is excited to promote sustainable dining and educate people to make green choices.

Claire Gallihugh
Food Team

Claire Gallihugh — Claire is a sophomore studying Applied Economic Management and Natural Resources Conservation. She is the communications representative of the food team and believes sustainability involves creating changes with the health and wellbeing of future generations in mind.

Michael Bannon
Food Team

Michael Bannon — Michael Bannon is a Senior majoring in Environmental Policy & Planning with minors in Leadership & Social Change, Environmental Economics, and Sociology. He will be on the Food Team this upcoming school year. He is looking forward to learning and implementing sustainability and different sustainable practices around campus and in the dining halls. Also, he is passionate about environmental health and water scarcity on a more global scale.

Catie Grayson
Food Team

Catie Grayson — Catie Grayson is a junior majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning with minors in Landscape Architecture and Smart and Sustainable Cities. As a member of the food team, she is excited about improving the composting process and increasing local, sustainable options in the dining halls. In addition, Catie looks forward to enhancing the overall sustainability within the Blacksburg community and providing the information and tools necessary to live a sustainable lifestyle.

Gabrielle Dean
Food Team

Gabrielle Dean — Gabrielle Dean is a rising Senior majoring in Public and Urban Affairs with a Spanish minor. She is part of the Food Team and is looking forward to learning about food sustainability on the VT campus. As an intern, she hopes to discover how food applies to many aspects of life, and how this can apply to communities at large.

Mailing address
Facilities Department (0529)
Sterrett Facilities Complex
Virginia Tech
230 Sterrett Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Phone
540-231-4300

Meet the Office of Sustainability Internship Program's intern teams: