Where are you from?
White Plains, NY
Where do you attend school? Share with us the city/town, what you are majoring in, what your academic interests are?
I’m currently a graduate student pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), located in Syracuse, NY. Previously, I earned by B.A. in Geography from SUNY Geneseo. The relationship between people, culture, and landscapes has always been at the forefront of my interests and has set the foundation for my continuing pursuits in Landscape Architecture.
What are your career or educational goals?
In the short-term, my goals are to earn my MLA degree and, in doing so, continue to refine my interests in the discipline and broaden my knowledge and experience base. It is the multidisciplinary nature of Landscape Architecture which makes it both so personally compelling, as well as difficult for me to say exactly where I’d like to be further down the road, outside the broad strokes of someplace where I can apply my strengths and experience to projects that are engaging and challenging, alongside a team that is dedicated, diverse, and passionate.
Outside of school and work what are your hobbies and/or interests?
My hobbies are always changing, whether it’s binge reading a series, indulging in video games, or drawing just to get my hands a little messy. Lately I’ve been focused on a project I’ve been calling “Plant Frankenstein”, where I’ve been trying to turn my reasonable number of house plants and succulents into an outrageous number by trying my hand at propagating from leaves and cuttings.
What is your internship project focus? Explain what you will be doing, which parks/partners will you be working with? Who is your mentor at OCLP?
This summer, I’ll be focusing on the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, part of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park (WORI) in Seneca Falls, NY. I’ll be concentrating on documentation collection, organization, and synthesis in preparation for a future Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) project that will take place at the site. As an OCLP DTP intern, I’ll also be working in partnership with the American Conservation Experience (ACE) and SUNY ESF. From SUNY ESF, Professors John Auwaerter, Rachel Leibowitz, and George Curry will be guiding me through the project.
Why did you choose to participate in a Designing the Parks Internship? How is your internship hosted? (Examples include: LHIP, NCPE, ACE, HBCUI, Mosaics in Science, etc)
Having participated in the DTP program last year, I know that its associates not only have the opportunity to become intimately familiar with a park or part of NPS operations, but also have the chance to work with a staff that feel strongly about the work they do and value the strengths, interests, and contributions of their interns. Getting to work with staff and other associates who come from varied backgrounds and who are enthusiastic and motivated is such a rewarding experience and I’m so excited to be back again for a second summer.
My internship is hosted by the American Conservation Experience, another great organization that I’m fortunate enough to be working with again this year.
What are you looking forward to learning or exploring during your internship?
Right now, I’m most looking forward to digging deep into the research and having the opportunity to explore archival sources that I haven’t had the chance to look into before.
What types of opportunities will Designing the Parks provide you with?
DTP is a great way to expand my network – professionally, academically, and personally. It also gives me the chance to learn more about the park service, the professional journeys of its staff, and my own skills and strengths, which I am always encouraged to develop and provided opportunities to grow and share.
Designing the Parks 