In 2025, we helped launch the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Fellowship: a work-based learning program designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the field. By matching qualified undergraduate and graduate students from regional colleges and universities with regional conservation organizations, the Alliance and our partners (Potomac Conservancy, Shenandoah Valley Conservancy and Sustainable Shenandoah Valley) are providing the professional development and meaningful training necessary to build a robust natural resource conservation workforce for the Valley.
To learn more about the Fellowship, please contact Maya Alexander at malexander@shenandoahalliance.org.
Celebrating Fellowship Accomplishments!
Hands-on Impact: Completed 635 hours of paid experience in conservation stewardship, strategic communications and policy engagement.
Career Mentorship: Cultivated long-term careers through targeted mentors and tailored professional development tracks.
Collaborative Learning: Invested 10 hours of cohort-based peer-to-peer networking and skill-building.
Strategic Networking: Connected Fellows with regional conservation leaders to expand future career pathways.
Thanks to our Fellowship Partners!
Annie Kate Walsh
2025 Alliance Fellow
“My Fellowship with the Alliance provided the perfect bridge between my studies in college and real-world advocacy. This role has granted me so many valuable opportunities as a recent graduate: from attending clean water conferences, to interviewing farmers and landowners using conservation practices on their lands, to engaging with communities throughout the Valley at festivals and events. Working with the Alliance showed me that conservation is as much about people and communication as it is about the land. The Fellowship has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and one that has prepared me for the future of my career.”
Getting to know Jade Shull, the Alliance’s 2026 Conservation Fellow
To help us get to know Jade better, we asked her a few questions.
Q: Where are you from? What is your connection to the Valley?
A: I was born and raised in Harrisonburg, and I’ve always felt a strong connection to the natural beauty of the Valley. Some of my favorite memories from growing up are of hiking on local trails with my family.
Q: Where are you going to college? What are you studying?
A: I’m graduating this semester from VCU with a B.S. in Environmental Studies, with a minor in Urban and Regional Studies. I am excited to apply what I’ve learned in my studies to this fellowship!
Q: Outside of school and work, what do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time I love to do anything outdoors! But I specifically enjoy traveling, reading, pickleball, and running races!
Q: Why did you choose to apply for the fellowship?
A: I chose to apply for the fellowship because it is a great opportunity for me to learn about conservation practices within a region I care deeply about. I want to use this experience to foster long-term environmental stewardship in the Valley.
Fun Fellow Fact: During the summer of 2025, Jade was a Staff Youth Crew Lead for the Appalachian Conservation Corps! She mentored local Charlottesville interns as they carried out trail maintenance and conservation projects on the Rivanna Trail Loop and surrounding areas, enhancing community trail accessibility.
“For our biggest project, we rehabilitated a new trail and built a bridge, which served as the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my time there. I also really enjoyed driving the buggy we used to transport tons of gravel onto the trail! The overall highlight for me was experiencing community collaboration, with residents and community members volunteering to support our work, demonstrating what can be accomplished when people come together.”
Jade Shull,
2025 Appalachian Conservation Corps
& Alliance 2026 Fellow