UNC Asheville Environmental Science, 1 University Hts, # 2330, Asheville, NC (2026)

10/20/2026

Who doesn't love the grassy bald at Craggy Gardens? If you were an ENVR student between 2000 and 2023, you may have been one of 350 students who collected data on blackberry encroachment during a trip to the bald. Dr. Rossell's paper ("Two decades of blackberry management in a Southern Appalachian grassy bald") was published this year in the Natural Areas Journal, thanks to the participation of so many wonderful students!

10/10/2026

Environmental Science professor Brittani McNamee and Gemma Dove (UNCA alum 2013) with the NC State Minerals Research Laboratory will be hosting a table at the Asheville Museum of Science's After Hours event on Conspiracies at the end of October. Their table will be discussing the mineral quartz and its purported influence on Asheville's Energy Vortex. UNC Asheville Asheville Museum of Science

09/29/2026

Another ENVS internship highlight!

Ella Moore
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation

This summer I served as an Interpretive Trail Guide Intern for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation in Linville, NC. My work focused on researching, designing, and presenting education programs to park visitors and providing informal interpretation through “roving” the park. Throughout the internship, I explored the ecology and geology of Western North Carolina. I gained significant knowledge regarding local flora and fauna, which led to the creation of an interpretive program on wildlife roles, resources, and habitats that define the ecological niches of various species present on Grandfather Mountain.

I enhanced several environmental skills, including scientific communication and interpretation. I practiced these skills through communication of data and information through programs accessible to park guests. These programs included Random Acts of Science, Junior Naturalists, and Peaks and Profiles. I had the opportunity to discuss concepts in conservation and restoration, which I had previously studied in Dr. David Gillette’s Environmental Restoration course through class readings and discussions. I was also able to identify fish, birds, amphibians, and mammals from lecture and field experience through Dr. Graham Reynolds’ Vertebrate Field Zoology course. My professional growth extended through learning the inner workings behind education in the non-profit sector and developing strong workplace skills. I participated in daily morning meetings to coordinate duties and utilized various methods of professional communication. I also gained valuable experience in customer service through interactions with diverse park guests.

One of my favorite moments from the summer was working the Grandfather by Night event on June 20, 2026. Watching the synchronized fireflies alongside our guests was a unique and beautiful experience that highlighted the importance of education on and conservation of natural spaces like Grandfather Mountain.

Photos from Linville Peak.

09/17/2026

Another one of our amazing internship students!

Tony Padron
Defenders of Wildlife Southeast Division
ENVS

I had the pleasure of interning at Defenders of Wildlife this summer in their Southeast division. As my first internship, this experience has been phenomenal in gaining hands-on experience and being able to network with other non-profit groups in the region.

I worked primarily in and around the Pisgah Forest and Big Ivy region. Within this region I assisted with the deployment and retrieval of autonomous recording units. These units were used to record avian and bat callings during certain times of day. The placement of the units was also crucial to ensure the targeted species was being recorded while being out of reach from unwanted animals or humans. The targeted species for each, respectfully, are the Cerulean Warbler for avians and for bats are the Myotis spp. and tricolored bat.

During my internship, I worked alongside a Duke graduate student to gather information regarding the National Park Services plan to log portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We each then wrote an op-ed discussing this disastrous plan and contributing our own opinions on the subject.

One of the main skills I was able to enhance this summer was my use and knowledge of GIS. Utilizing GIS was paramount on finding and successfully documenting coordinates of where each autonomous recording unit was placed within the forest. Being able to read the map data proved helpful in guiding us to each unit and ensuring we took the safest route. Another skill that I was able to enhance was identifying trees and differentiating between old growth and early succession forests.

One of the main and most crucial connection between the internship and the class work was being able to network. Networking has been a skill I was lacking in, but this experience has provided me the opportunity to showcase my knowledge to others as well as being confident to approach others within the environmental field.

Some of my favorable moments occurred when we were simply hiking to and from our work sites. Early in the morning in an avian unit retrieval, Tracy and I were hiking through forested terrain to reach our destination. As we were traversing through, I heard a rattle amongst the dead silence and Tracy had quickly come to a halt. After she heard the rattling, she hastily rescinded her steps while telling me to step back a few feet. Once we safely removed ourselves from that shady patch of tall grass, I had seen that a rattlesnake was roughly a foot or two in front of where we were previously.

I am very grateful for these incredible experiences and would recommend anyone who is interested to get involved with Defenders!

09/09/2026

Our next internship profile is from Syd Logan!

Defenders of Wildlife, Southeast Office
Ecology Concentration

I had the pleasure of interning with the Southeast division of Defenders of Wildlife this summer. I couldn’t have been more pleased with my first internship. I learned so much from my experience. I worked the June Brews and Bears event at the WNC Nature Center representing Safe Passage, one of Defender's partner organizations. I spoke with members of the public about the importance of implementing wildlife crossings on our local highways to protect people and wildlife. It was a great opportunity to practice public outreach and improve my people skills. I also went to Waynesville to speak to the Mast General Store staff about their Round-Up for Safe Passage. So far, the campaign has been very successful. I am honored to have worked for Safe Passage this summer. Working with partner organizations towards a common goal is a major component of Defenders’ mission.

My most exciting experience this summer was getting to work with hellbenders. I went out in the field with two hellbender experts, Ben Dalton and Lori Williams to go on a hellbender search and rescue. We surveyed sections of a river, searching the rocks and banks for adult and subadult individuals. They were much more difficult to find than I thought, but Ben and Lori managed to find three. They said, “don’t look for hellbenders, look for rocks.” Their camouflage is absolutely incredible. Each one’s location was marked with GPS coordinates. During a different excursion, Ben showed us how to PIT tag a hellbender for tracking. Both of these experiences were incredibly rewarding for me. I am so grateful to have connected with Ben and Lori and look forward to continuing my relationship with them and the NC Wildlife Resource Commission. UNC Asheville

09/02/2026

Our next internship highlight is from Lewis Gray!
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Community Farm
Major: ENVS: Ecology

This summer I had the opportunity to intern with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) Community Farm, where I worked alongside Community Farm Manager Chris Link and helped support the farm's daily operations. My responsibilities included mowing and weed-eating, surveying and spraying the orchard, assembling educational signs, assisting with streambank restoration projects, and helping with educational tours and community events. Every day brought something a little different, which kept the work interesting and gave me the chance to experience many aspects of conservation and sustainable land management. I also learned about the many projects taking place on the farm, including silvopasture, agroforestry, streambank restoration, mushroom compost production, the Utopian Seed Project, and partnerships with local flower growers. Although there was variety in things I got to learn about every day, there was also a lot of grass cutting!

One of the most rewarding parts of this internship was getting to see how the concepts I've learned in class are applied in the real world. Courses like Ecology, Environmental Management, Soil Science, and Exotic Invasive Plant Management gave me a strong foundation, but seeing restoration work, sustainable agriculture, and land stewardship happening firsthand made those lessons much more meaningful. I also developed practical environmental skills through daily fieldwork, from recognizing invasive vegetation and observing restoration techniques to communicating with visitors during tours. Beyond the environmental knowledge I gained, I became more confident working as part of a team, communicating with the public, managing my time, and taking initiative whenever new projects came up.

My favorite experience was helping with one of the community hikes on the Discovery Trail. It was enjoyable to walk the property with visitors and watch them become interested in the work being done to restore and care for the land. Seeing people ask questions and connect with the farm reminded me that conservation isn't just about protecting natural resources—it is also about helping others understand why those places matter. Looking back, this internship strengthened my passion for conservation and confirmed that this is the type of work I hope to pursue after graduation. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from Chris, contribute to meaningful projects, and gain hands-on experience that has made me a more confident future environmental professional.

08/28/2026

Welcome back UNCA Bulldogs! We are so excited to be back with our ENVS students and everyone else on campus! Happy ice cream day!

08/27/2026

Over the next few weeks, we are going to highlight some of the internships our ENVS students have completed. They have done some really amazing work! First, we have Lucy Alva!

Lucy Alva
Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC)
Major: Environmental Science (Ecology) with a minor in Chemistry

During my summer internship with Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC), I had the opportunity to help protect and manage conserved lands in North Carolina. My responsibilities included monitoring Eastern Bluebird nest boxes, checking nests, eggs, and young birds throughout the nesting season, rerouting hiking trails to reduce erosion and improve long-term sustainability, flagging future trail locations, identifying and marking preserve and easement boundaries, and assisting with other land stewardship projects. Through these experiences, I learned how conservation organizations balance public recreation with habitat protection while protecting wildlife and preserving natural areas for future generations.

This internship allowed me to apply many of the concepts I have learned in my Environmental Science courses at UNC Asheville. While working in the field, I gained a better understanding of ecology, habitat management, soil erosion, invasive and native plant identification, and the importance of long-term conservation planning. I strengthened my field observation, GPS navigation, data collection, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills by working alongside experienced land managers. Seeing how classroom concepts are used in real conservation work helped me connect my coursework to practical environmental stewardship and gave me a greater appreciation for the work involved in managing protected lands.

One of my favorite parts of the internship was monitoring the Eastern Bluebird nest boxes because I was able to observe the entire nesting process, from nests and eggs to newly hatched chicks and growing young birds. It was rewarding to see the direct impact of our monitoring efforts on local wildlife conservation. Another memorable experience was working in the woods while rerouting trails, where we frequently encountered Eastern box turtles in their natural habitat. These moments reminded me why protecting natural areas is so important. Overall, this internship strengthened my passion for conservation, increased my confidence working in the field, and confirmed that I want to pursue a career focused on protecting wildlife and natural ecosystems.

Photo 1: Monitoring Eastern Bluebird nest boxes throughout the nesting season, from nests and eggs to baby birds. One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to watch the young birds develop while helping support bluebird conservation.

Photo 2: Rerouting trails to reduce erosion and improve long-term sustainability. One of my favorite parts of working in the woods was seeing so many Eastern box turtles throughout the preserves.

08/16/2026

Our faculty had a busy and fun summer but we can't wait to be back with our students tomorrow! Photos: Dr. King speaking at the Everybody’s Climate Series at the San Francisco Public Library (followed by swimming!), Dr. Jeff working at one of his wetland sites, flame azaleas from Dr. Rossell, Ed Schwarzman and students surveying rare species in the Cherokee National Forest, and Dr. Jackie geologic mapping along the Tuckaseegee River.

06/26/2026

Abby Sgan (ENVS '24) successfully defended her M.S. thesis in hydrogeology (Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences) at Clemson today. (Dr. Jeff was on her master's committee). Congrats Abby!

UNC Asheville Environmental Science

10/20/2026

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