Spring 2018 Scholars

Elliot Ayres '18

Global Warming Solutions Intern at Environment America

Griffin Bird '19

Climate Policy Intern at the Institute for Policy Studies

Griffin​ ​is​ ​a​ ​junior​ ​from​ ​Arlington,​ ​Virginia.​ ​As an​ ​Arlington​ ​native,​ ​Griffin​ ​is​ ​no​ ​stranger​ ​to​ ​the​ ​DMV and​ ​DC.​ ​Double​ ​majoring​ ​in​ ​Public​ ​Policy​ ​and​ ​Environmental​ ​Policy,​ ​he​ ​certainly​ ​has​ ​his​ ​work cut​ ​out​ ​for​ ​him​ ​as​ ​he​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​better​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​environmental​ ​policy​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States.​ ​More specifically,​ ​he’s​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​the​ ​advancement​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Green​ ​Economy,​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​environmental justice​ ​and​ ​how​ ​those​ ​disproportionately​ ​affect​ ​disenfranchised​ ​communities​ ​across​ ​the​ ​United States.​ ​On​ ​campus,​ ​Griffin​ ​works​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Student​ ​Environmental​ ​Action​ ​Coalition​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Office of​ ​Sustainability​ ​in​ ​the​ ​hopes​ ​of​ ​making​ ​our​ ​community​ ​a​ ​greener​ ​one.​ ​Alongside​ ​pursuing​ ​his studies,​ ​Griffin​ ​is​ ​an​ ​avid​ ​Seinfeld​ ​fan,​ ​has​ ​a​ ​penchant​ ​for​ ​antique​ ​malls​ ​and​ ​flea​ ​markets,​ ​and can’t​ ​get​ ​enough​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Appalachian​ ​Mountains. 

Joshua Brown '18

Office of Sustainable Communities Intern at the EPA

Joshua is a senior from Hampton, VA, currently pursuing a major in International Relations and a minor in Economics. His biggest area of interest is sustainable and equitable economic development, specifically regarding Latin America. He hopes the DC program will expand his knowledge of pressing environmental issues and how developing and developed economies can work together to address these problems in a way that is fair to all sides, particularly indigenous communities and people of color. Apart from academics, Joshua is an active member and co-founder of the Young Democratic Socialists at William & Mary, lives in the Hispanic House, and is trying to learn Portuguese. 

Meagan Cantwell '18

Videography Intern at NOAA's Office of Marine Sactuaries

Meagan is a senior from Alexandria, Virginia. She is pursuing a double major in Geology and Environmental Science. On campus, she is a videography intern for University Advancement, a committee member of Homebrew, plays flute in the Pep band, and is a brother of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. In her free time, she is constantly consuming content in the form of podcasts, as well as curating Spotify playlists. She is looking forward to expanding her media skills during her semester in D.C.

Alex Gerard '19

Intern at the Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Alex is currently a junior from Arlington, VA. He is double majoring in Biology and Environmental Science. His current career goals are to work as a park ranger or something similar. Last summer he traveled to New Mexico to work at a Boy Scout summer camp called Philmont. In his free time he enjoys climbing the rock wall at the rec, as well as trees all around the sunken gardens. He also plays Ultimate Frisbee for the William & Mary B team.

Deborah Kornblut '19

International Affairs Intern at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Deborah is a junior from McLean, Virginia, majoring in Environmental Policy and Government. A member of the W&M crew team and a teaching assistant for the German Department, she is also a student correspondent for the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the William & Mary Law School. Over the summer she attended the summer institute at Exeter University in England where she was able to appreciate the science behind climate change. With a background in the social sciences and science, she hopes to attend law school after completing her bachelors in order to practice environmental law. Outside of class and work, she enjoys traveling and photography.

Courtney Lorey '20

Intern at Environment America

Courtney is a sophomore at William & Mary originally from Glastonbury, Connecticut. She is a Biology major and a Marine Science minor with an interest in environmental science, policy, and conservation. On campus, she does research in Dr. Allen’s marine invertebrate lab. She is also involved in organizations such as the Marine Science Society and the Student Environmental Action Coalition. In her free time, Courtney likes to be outside. She loves hiking, running, or simply sitting in the sun reading a good book. 

Casey MacLean '18

Constituent and Legislative Affairs Intern at NOAA's Office of Marine Sanctuaries

Casey is a senior from just outside DC in Fairfax, Virginia. At William & Mary, Casey co-founded the Beekeeping Club, participated in marine science research, volunteered with the Crim Dell Restoration Campaign, and is an active member of Chi Omega. She is a double major in Public Policy and Environmental Science & Policy and hopes to attend graduate school for marine science in the future. In her free time, she likes to go running, read books, and spend time with friends. Casey is thrilled to spend her last semester in her favorite city!

Maxim Maiello '19

Intern at the DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division

Max is currently a junior from Oak Ridge, New Jersey. He is double majoring in Public Policy and Environmental Policy, and he is excited to begin his career focusing on environmental law and urban planning in Washington D.C. In addition to serving on the executive board of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha, Max volunteers with Griffin School Partnerships as a tutor for middle school students. He has served as an intern at William & Mary’s Office of First Year Experience and as a research assistant at AidData, a research and innovation lab. Outside of academics, he enjoys reading non-fiction, drawing urban architecture, and exploring Greek and Roman mythology. As a frequent visitor of New York City, he has always wanted to live in an urban area and is excited to enjoy a semester in Washington.

Colleen Scott '20

Resource Watch Intern at the World Resources Institute

Colleen is a sophomore at William & Mary who hails from Camp Hill, PA. She intends to double major in Environmental Science & Policy and Geology and is particularly interested in ecological effects of pollution and how federal pollution regulations are implemented and managed at the local level. On campus, Colleen plays alto saxophone in the William & Mary Pep Band and is currently the web editor for the non-profit organization Housing Partnerships, Inc. She has also worked with the Roosevelt Network at William & Mary to investigate the College's participation in interest rate swaps. In her free time, Colleen enjoys listening to movie soundtracks, devouring bread ends from the Cheese Shop, and playing air hockey. During the semester, she looks forward to living as a local and experiencing the wonders of the DC Metro system.

Sarah Scott '19

Policy Intern at the American Sustainable Business Council

Sarah is a junior from Newport News, VA. She is pursuing a degree in Public Policy and a minor in Economics. Her long-term career goal is to become a consultant, specializing in environmental protection in business. While in DC, she hopes to learn about the role of economics in environmental policy, and how the business world can be more earth-conscious. She is a member of the Catholic Campus Ministry on campus, and is a middle school tutor. She enjoys running, reading, and thrifting, and is thrilled to be one of the Spring 2018 Semester Scholars.

Taro Shirakawa '19

Policy Intern at the American Sustainable Business Council

Taro is a junior at William & Mary. He is an international student from Japan and major in International Relations and Philosophy. He is a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Japanese Culture Association, and International Cultural Exchange. He is planning to stay in the U.S. after graduation, and this DC semester opportunity will be fruitful for him to apply his knowledge of International Relations and Philosophy in the real world and seek options for his first career. In his free time, he enjoys watching and playing soccer, and playing the guitar.

Peyton Weber '19

Intern at the DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division

Peyton is a junior from Suffolk, Virginia. Peyton is majoring in International Relations and plans to minor in French and Francophone Studies. On campus, she is a member of Delta Gamma sorority and the International Relations Club. Her academic interests include diplomacy, international trade, and modern French culture. In her free time, Peyton enjoys rowing, reading, and singing. She enjoys being outdoors, and loves going to the beach as often as she can. Peyton has an interest in all levels of politics, and was a field director for Benny Zhang’s Williamsburg City Council campaign in 2016. She hopes to one day work in DC and looks forward to an exciting semester in the capital!