2026 Sustainability Interns
Izzy Andrus
Climate Action Intern
Izzy is a senior from Portland, Oregon, and plans on majoring in Environmental Studies. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she always felt connected to nature and spent most of her free time outdoors. She has always devoted herself to advocating for sustainability and environmental justice. Izzy hopes she can use her time at Richmond to create more of an impact on fighting the climate crisis. Outside of school, Izzy enjoys hanging out with friends, hiking, swimming, and playing soccer.
Ava Dibattista
Eco-Corridor Maintenance Student Employee
Ava is a junior from Greenville, SC and is majoring in Environmental Studies. She grew up in Tucson, AZ where she frequented the Tucson Wildlife Museum and camped on the weekends with her family. The desert sparked her interest in the environment, and she has been in love since. Ava is a member of Women's Club Volleyball at UR and is in Tri Delta. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, trying new coffee shops, and stopping community members on campus to say hi to their dogs.
Emery Elkinson
Tree Conservation Intern
Emery Elkinson is a junior from Lexington, KY majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Geography and Spanish. Her passion for the environment comes from early experiences exploring the outdoors with her family. In high school, Emery became involved in environmental justice and interned with the Lexington's Division of Planning where she co-authored the city's first net-zero emissions goals. In her free time Emery enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time with friends.
Duncan Hall
Eco-Corridor Maintenance Student Employee
Duncan Hall is a junior from Milton, Massachusetts, studying Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and International Business and a minor in Sustainability. On campus at Richmond, Duncan works for the Center of Civic Engagement's PACE Program and has served as the treasurer for WDCE 90.1 FM Radio. Duncan is also the President of his fraternity and volunteers at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Most recently, he returned from studying abroad at the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, where he completed a project about Sweden's sustainability culture through sports. Duncan also enjoys watching movies, spending time outdoors, and engaging with sustainability-minded people.
Nidhi Karnik
Sustainability Planning & Strategy Intern
Nidhi is a freshman from River Vale, New Jersey, and plans on majoring in Economics and Leadership Studies. She loves skiing and hiking, and these activities sparked her appreciation for the outdoors and interest in sustainability. In Spring 2025, she established a community garden and composting site in her home county, and she also advocates for environmental justice issues through her policy work with New Jersey Food and Water Watch and Southside ReLeaf in Richmond. Outside of this, Nidhi loves playing instruments and working with kids.
Claire Wiley
Alumni Connection & Engagement Intern
Claire is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Business Administration and Sociology. She grew up moving around the country in a Navy family, which gave her an appreciation for different environments and communities, especially places near the water. She’s particularly interested in the connection between business and environmental responsibility and hopes to work in corporate sustainability after graduation. Outside of academics, Claire enjoys spending time along the James River, reading, watching movies, and being with friends.