Internships and Fellowships
The Center emphasizes learning by doing. We engage in local and regional issues with an eye toward the transferability of ideas, looking not just at the science needed to solve our most pressing environmental problems, but also at the social implications of our work, the needs of our community, and the social or cultural acceptability of solutions to environmental issues.
Past Interns
Rachel Field
CES Fellow 2009-11
rfield2@washcoll.edu
Rachel Field ’11 has worked for the Center for Environment and Society for several summers as an intern at Chino Farms. During this time she has been given the opportunity to design her own project looking at mate selection in Blue Grosbeaks. She’s also participated in an ongoing study mapping Grasshopper Sparrow territories and in nest searching for these birds, among others. As a CES intern for the Spring ’11 semester Rachel worked at Chino Farms again, this time in the Foreman’s Branch Banding Station banding migratory birds. Her work involved learning about banding birds including molt patterns in songbirds and aging techniques. Most of the banding focused on migratory passerines, but also included some shorebirds and raptors. Rachel was an Environmental Studies major with minors in English and Philosophy. She was also the president of the Wilderness Adventure Club at WC, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and the Cater Society.
Kate McKelvey
Climate Action Intern 2009-11
kmckelvey2@washcoll.edu
Kate McKelvey ’11 was the climate action intern for the Center and she compiled records of energy use for the college, such as gas and electric. This information was then entered in a carbon calculator to determine what the college’s carbon emissions are. 2011 was Kate’s third semester working for the CES as a climate action intern. Kate double majored in Environmental Studies and Economics. She was also a tutor and a tour guide at WC.
Martha O'Neill
CES Fellow Spring 2011
moneill2@washcoll.edu
Martha O’Neill ’11 worked with the CES doing environmental outreach. She worked on an array of things including adding to the center’s website, helping to get a sustainable community garden started for WC, and assisting with events like the Earth Day Festival. Martha has worked for the CES in the past as a Recycling Assistant where she promoted campus sustainability through collecting and sorting recycling as well as working in the office to come up with new ways of getting students involved in the green campaign. Martha was an English major and a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She spent her junior year abroad at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa where she was involved in the student environmental society, G.R.A.S.S planting sustainable gardens. Martha has a great love for trees and greatly values her connection to the natural world.
Elle O'Brien
CES Fellow 2011
eobrien3@washcoll.edu
Elle O’Brien ’12 worked as an environmental outreach intern for CES. She tried to involve the community with more CES activities as well as adding to the activities to make them more valuable. Elle was an Environmental Studies major and completed a concentration in Chesapeake Regional Studies doing the Chesapeake Semester with the center. She was also the Captain of sho’ troupe at WC and teaches hip-hop classes.
Amanda Anastasia
CES Fellow 2009-11
aanastasia2@washcoll.edu
Amanda Anastasia ’13 worked with CES doing video editing. She created short promotional videos out of Chesapeake Semester footage. Having worked with CES since September 2009 as a Recycling Assistant and an intern, she has done a variety of tasks for the Center, including grant research and applications, blogging, and submitting newspaper articles about CES and recycling to the Elm. Amanda is an Environmental Studies major and is active in a variety of clubs and organizations on campus, including E.R.O.S. Alliance, Women’s Rugby, and the Student Environmental Alliance. She also writes for the Elm on an irregular basis and has produced videos for College Relations.
Brendyn Meisinger
CES Fellow Spring 2011
bmeisinger2@washcoll.edu
As a CES intern Brendyn Meisinger ’13 worked at Chino Farms learning about banding birds in the Foreman’s Branch Banding Station. In addition he was involved in organizing tree-planting projects in Millington, MD for CES. Brendyn is an Environmental Studies major at WC. He is the vice president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, as well as an active member of the Interfraternity Council.
Sinan Wolf-Gazo
CES Fellow Spring 2011
sinanwolfgazo@gmail.com
Sinan Wolf Gazo is an international student at WC, he comes to us from the American University in Cairo where he is a Chemical Engineer Major specializing in Industrial and Clinical Chemistry. During his semester at WC Sinan worked at the Center for Environment & Society researching solar hot water panels for possible use on some western shore dorms, and produced a proposal that can be used by the President’s Climate Action Committee. Sinan helped to compile information about plastic bags for discussions regarding the Town’s recent decision to ban plastic check-out bags. He also designed a “Don’t Forget Your Bag” decal that can be put on car windows to help residents remember to bring their cloth bags. At his home university Sinan is also a part of the Solar decathlon team and serves as a Student Senator.
Kelsey Hallowell
CES Fellow 2009-11
khallowell2@washcoll.edu
Kelsey Hallowell ’12 is a senior at Washington College. She is an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Anthropology and a concentration in Chesapeake Bay Regional Studies. Kelsey has worked with the CES since her freshman year. She began as a recycling assistant collecting and sorting campus recycling. Kelsey was also the Education Intern for Colchester Farms where she assisted with harvesting, adult cooking classes, and a children’s camp. She is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, and a member of Ducks Unlimited, Service Council, SIFE, and vice-president of the Student Environmental Alliance.
Read more about Kelsey's work with CES.
Dan Danko
CES Fellow 2010
ddanko2@washcoll.edu
Dan Danko '12 interned for the Center for Environment and Society working with birds at Chino Farms. Dan was placed in the Foreman Branch Bird Observatory where he was expected to positively identify the birds that migrated into the area; assist with the removal of the birds from the nets; and record information (i.e. species, fat, sex, age, weight) on each bird brought back to the banding laboratory. The internship required early mornings, as you must start work at sunrise. Of the internship Dan says “It was a rewarding internship, being able to identify a wide array of wildlife (not only birds) while being exposed to the beauty of Chino Farms. It is also rewarding to watch the sun rise over the Chester River each morning!” Dan is an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Biology and a concentration in Chesapeake Regional Studies. Dan is the Co-President of the Student Environmental Alliance on campus as well as the President of the Interfraternity Council. He is also the Vice President and Service Chairman of Kappa Alpha Order. Dan takes great pride in all three positions, striving to create a better connection between the college and Chestertown in many different ways.
Benjy Duke
CES Fellow 2010
bduke2@washcoll.edu
Benjy Duke ’10 interned with the Center for Environment and Society in the spring semester of 2010. Benjy was a Humanities major with a minor in Art and Art History. He also was a participant in WC’s first Chesapeake Semester (Fall ’09) and has a concentration in Chesapeake Bay regional studies as a result. During his internship Benjy worked re-establishing relationships with Chesapeake Semester lecturers, as well as forming a database for current and future internship/fellowship opportunities for WC students. Learning from Mike Hardesty, Benjy also built oyster floats for an oyster restoration project called “Marylanders Grow Oysters”.
Read more about Benjy's work with CES and see how his experiences have influenced life after graduation.
Maureen Sentman
CES Fellow 2008
msentman3@washcoll.edu
Maureen Sentman '10 interned with the Center, working to advance its mission by documenting progress and spotlighting the various environmental projects taking place throughout the Spring 2008 semester by use of various mutlimedia techniques. Her documentaries on the Eastern Shore's culture and conservation efforts have achieved local fame, and she plans to one day publish her photos of rural routes and landscapes from the upper Eastern Shore. She and her family devote much of their time to volunteering with the WC, Sassafras, and Cecil County chapters of Ducks Unlimited, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and other land preservation efforts. She enjoys traveling, photography, and the great outdoors.
Read Maureen's full profile here.
Danielle Aloisio
CES Fellow 2007
daloisio2@washcoll.edu
Danielle Aloisio '08 works with the President's Climate Action Commitment on climate change and carbon emissions. She is studying student and faculty/staff travel habits and presenting them using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through this research, plans for carbon emission cutting will be implemented at Washington College and in the Chestertown community. Danielle has previously interned at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL, working in the Ecotoxicology lab. She worked with fellow scientists examining how the elusive "red tide" toxins travel through food chains. She is an Environmental Studies major with a minor in history and is writing her Senior Capstone on agricultural effects on Urieville Lake. Danielle also works in the Miller library, is an active member and Vice President of Student Environmental Alliance, a member of ODK, the national leadership honor society, and Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society. After Washington College, Danielle plans to continue doing work with water quality and analysis.
Ashton Kluttz
CES Fellow 2007
akluttz2@washcoll.edu
Ashton Kluttz '08 interns with the Center, collecting data that will aid in urban greening, climate action protection and carbon emission reduction efforts for Washington College and the Town of Chestertown. Ashton has previously interned with Wye Research and Education Center in Wye Mills, Maryland where she worked with scientists in testing and examining endocrine disruption in amphibians and fish. She is an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Earth and Planetary Systems. Ashton is also involved in the Skeet and Trap club, ODK, Ducks Unlimited, and is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
Melody Warner 2007
CES Fellow
mwarner2@washcoll.edu
Melody Warner '08 interns with the Center at Chino Farms, censusing birds in various grasslands habitats and using the census data to analyze bird numbers and see if any species are increasing or decreasing over the years. She's also assisting with bird banding, which requires removing birds from mist nets, and writing down their species, age, weight, wing length, fat, and finally actually banding them. This data is used as another method of censusing bird numbers. Melody is an environmental studies major and has always loved the outdoors and enjoys outdoor adventure activities such as kayaking, hiking, skiing, and canoeing. She plans to move to Oregon when she graduates.
Kimmy Kraeer 2005-6
CES Fellow
Kimmy Kraeer '07 interned with the CES for two summers assisting Dr. Wayne Bell with the MD/DC Breeding Bird Atlas project. The CES helped Kimmy to get her first post-graduation internship at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as an intern in the educational department.
Since WC Kimmy has had several internships and grant funded positions in the biology or environmental fields. She now works at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Read Kimmy's full profile here.