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Interns and Research Assistants
At the Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative, we emphasize experiential student learning opportunities wherever feasible, and strive to include students on our research teams for our various projects. Whether through full-time summer internships, externships for academic credit, degree-program capstones, or practical course-based projects, we explore the right fit for the right project with the goal of providing both undergraduate and graduate students with real-world experience in coastal resilience topics before graduation.
We partner with several schools and programs across main campus and VIMS, including the Law School, Raymond A. Mason School of Business, public policy, environment and sustainability, and others to bring students into the coastal resilience space.
For more information on how you can get involved with the VCRC as a student, please reach out to Assistant Director, Cameron Bruce, at [[csbruce]].
Current & Previous VCRC Interns & Research Assistants
| Name | School / Program | Project(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | ||
| Aurora Garrison | W&M Law School J.D. Candidate | VA Hook & Cook Legal Analysis State & Local Stormwater Management |
| Maddison Schwarz | University of Richmond Law School J.D. Candidate | Legal Analysis of Harvesting Wetland Plants for Research & Propagation |
| Madeleine Fernandez |
W&M Env & Sustainability, Biology; Class of 2027 |
Legal Analysis of Harvesting Wetland Plants for Research & Propagation |
| Arlie Munday | W&M Env & Sustainability, Government; Class of 2028 | VA Hook & Cook Legal Analysis VA 2026 General Assembly Review |
Summer 2025 |
||
| Kevin Fontenot | W&M Law School J.D. Candidate | VA No Adverse Impact Legal Guide Changing Vertical Datums |
| Kianne Benjamin | VIMS M.A. in Marine Science Candidate | Changing Vertical Datums Outreach & Communications |
| Natalie Klesch | VIMS M.A. in Marine Science Candidate | Changing Vertical Datums Chickahominy Indian Tribe Native Plant Nursery Business Plan |
| Kelsey Wakiyama | W&M Env & Sustainability, Business Analytics; Class of 2026 | Chickahominy Indian Tribe Native Plant Nursery Business Plan |
Spring 2025 |
||
| Daniella Relvas-Valiadis | W&M Law School J.D. Candidate | VA No Adverse Impact Legal Guide |
Summer 2024 |
||
| James Fakolt | W&M Law School J.D. Candidate | VA No Adverse Impact Legal Guide |
| Elizabeth Qi | W&M Law School J.D. Candidate | VA No Adverse Impact Legal Guide |