Where are you from?
I grew up in and am currently working remotely from Buffalo, New York.
Where do you/did you attend school? Share with us the city/town, what you are majoring in, what your academic interests are?
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from the University at Buffalo (UB) and minored in both Global Gender Studies and Architecture. I am currently attending UB for my Masters of Urban Planning, concentrating in neighborhood planning and community development. My academic interests include greenspace access and community engagement.
What are your career goals?
My goal is to use my planning and community engagement skills to share my passion for parks and plants. My goal through this internship is to expand my knowledge of horticulture and preservation maintenance so that I can carry it with me into my graduate studies and professional work.
Outside of school and work what are your hobbies and/or interests?
I enjoy playing guitar, reading science fiction novels, and gardening. I also love cooking, especially for other people!
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 the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation (OCLP)?
My internship with OCLP is with the preservation maintenance team, planning for the restoration of the orchard at Martin Van Buren National Historic site. I will be researching the history of orchards in the United States and New York State at the time of Van Buren’s stay at Lindenwald and creating design options for implementing similar varieties and techniques. My mentors are Michael Stachowicz and Jennifer Hanna, but I will also be working with the other members of the preservation maintenance team and the staff at MAVA to complete my project.
Why did you choose to participate in a Designing the Parks Internship? How is your internship hosted?
I decided to apply for Designing the Parks because I have an interest in historic preservation, stemming from my coursework, as well as a passion for parks and plant maintenance. I came across this internship through the historic preservation program at UB. All Masters candidates were notified of the NCPE summer internship opportunities during the 2021 Spring semester. This seemed like a great opportunity not only to gain valuable experience with an interesting project, but also meet people within the National Park Service and other associates who share similar interests.
What are you looking forward to learning or exploring during your internship?
I am excited to learn about horticulture and the maintenance of my site and others. I am specifically interested in the ways that preservation and horticulture interact to maintain historic landscapes. I am looking forward to visiting the Martin Van Buren site and learning more about the orchard project! I am also interested in the other programs run by the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation and I look forward to learning from the other associates and program managers.
What types of opportunities will Designing the Parks provide you with?
Through Designing the Parks, I will be a part of the Rising Professionals Cohort, which will provide me with networking opportunities, resume building workshops, and guest speakers from other professionals within the National Park Service. I will also have travel opportunities (COVID allowing) to visit the site I am studying and potentially meet up with other associates. I also have the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities including educational workshops and online learning courses.
Designing the Parks 