UNC Asheville Environmental Science

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!

05/21/2026

05/09/2026

Well that's a wrap! Today was the usual mix of bittersweet feelings as we wished our graduates well on their next journey. Go Bulldogs!

04/28/2026

It is that time of year again! Our mineralogy students are competing for the annual mineral cup! .mincup

You can vote here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy0XhSjrgn-34wlOFiJN2gC6YjSpnYlNIdKfLt3KrsfFORNw/viewform

04/25/2026

Junior Anele Saige and senior Anaya Harry traveled to Vermont with Dr. Rossell to attend the Northeast Natural History Conference. They presented their undergraduate research on green alder, visited a bioremediation site on Lake Champlain, met a conservation dog, and experienced April snow in the North Country!

04/21/2026

Today we proudly celebrate our undergraduate research students! They worked hard and displayed some insightful findings from their work. Great job everyone!