My name is Gwen Lohse and I am the programming associate Americorps civil service member at The Freshkills Park Alliance. I am currently a student at Hunter College CUNY, on track to graduate with a Bachelors in environmental studies with a concentration in earth systems science.

My name is Shannon Erickson. I recently graduated from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University with my Master of Public Administration focused on environmental policy and administration. Prior to that, I earned my Bachelor of Science from Binghamton University, SUNY in environmental science with an ecosystems concentration.

Hi! My name is Gaby Kucher and I am the new LEAF (Learning, Explore, Activate, and Foster) Coordinator, part of City Service Corps! I’m a long-time Staten Island resident and a student at Brooklyn College completing my Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Science.

Hello everyone! My name is Liz Campos and I am a summer intern hired through Queens College.  I am so excited to be working at Freshkills Park! Currently I am a rising junior with a major in political science and am considering a minor in communications.

Hi! My name is Brittney Williamson and I’m the new Community Engagement Fellow at Freshkills Park! Born and raised on the North Shore of Staten Island and a transfer student from Syracuse University, I’ve recently completed my undergraduate studies at CUNY John Jay College, earning two degrees:  a Bachelor of Science in Security Management with a minor in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Art in Philosophy.

Hi, my name is Melody Simon and I am a high school intern at Freshkills Park. I attend the New York Harbor School and I am a senior in the aquaculture program there; doing aquaculture for 3 years has made my previous love for animals and the environment turn into something I am passionate about.

Ashley Frenkel is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Freshkills Park. An educator by training, she’s taught in all five boroughs including her birthplace of Brooklyn and her hometown of Staten Island. Ashley has a passion for interdisciplinary and collective learning and believes that at the intersection of art, science, history, and math we can learn to take new perspectives and honor the creativity, self-expression, and experiences of ourselves and others.

Friends, Colleagues and Partners of the Freshkills Park Alliance,

On behalf of the Board of Directors at the Freshkills Park Alliance, with both sadness and gratitude, we are announcing the resignation of Nancy Hechinger from the Board.  She was a founding member of the Board in 2006 and has been an active and energetic contributor and source of support to the Freshkills Park Alliance ever since.

Rachel Aronson is the Education Programming Coordinator for Freshkills Park. She loves spending time with kids and being outside, and she is passionate about improving access to parks in urban spaces. Rachel has worked as a classroom teacher, environmental educator, and manager of the Hazon Seal of Sustainability, a sustainability program for organizations.

Karl Vetter is the Project Development Coordinator for Freshkills Park.  A native of the Bronx, he has been highly involved in urban greenspaces as a Central Park volunteer, an intern in a Hydroponic greenhouse in Newark, an Americorps Coordinator with the New York Restoration Project, and a seasonal staff member of Partnerships for Parks.

Christian Prince is the Freshkills Park Art Program Intern for the summer of 2019. He is from Washington, DC and graduated from Vassar College.

What are you working on, and why do you think it’s interesting/important?

I’m assisting in the development of arts programs including installations in the park and working on materials for exhibitions at the Studio + Gallery.

Damaris Borden is Freshkills Park’s Climate Change Intern for the summer of 2019. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, she is passionate about improving people’s access to nature and its therapeutic effects. She is a rising senior at Bard College where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Urban Studies with a focus in economics, policy, and development, as well as a master’s degree in Climate Science and Policy.

Galen Oettel is an Environmental Science Intern for Freshkills Park. Born and raised in New York City, he’s currently a rising junior at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Galen is majoring in Environmental Science and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Caitlyn Simon is an Environmental Science Intern for Freshkills Park. She was born and raised in NYC and lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn when she is not attending Amherst College in Massachusetts. She is a rising senior double-majoring in Environmental Studies and Geology.

Christine Stoddard is a CUNY graduate planning fellow for the 2018 Reclaimed Lands Conference. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, she has lived in Brooklyn for two years. She is currently an MFA candidate in the Digital & Interdisciplinary Art Practice program at The City College of New York (CUNY).

Kaitlyn Brudecki is a Science and Research Intern for the Freshkills Park project. She grew up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn then later moved to Middle Village, Queens. She studies Aquaculture at the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School.

What are you working on?

Madeleine Levin is serving as Freshkills Park’s Public Art Program Intern. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, which is home to the World’s Smallest Park, and she is currently a senior at Columbia University majoring in Urban Studies.

What are you working on?

This year the Freshkills Park office had a wonderful group of interns and seasonal staff. As the summer comes to a end, we’d like to express our gratitude for the talented individuals who contributed their ideas, passions, and hard work to the project.

Maksym Cohen is Freshkills Park’s Water Quality Intern for the summer of 2017. He grew up in Port Washington, New York and currently lives in Albertson, New York. He is entering his senior year at the University of San Diego where he is pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies.

Maria Huiza is the Summer 2017 Arts+Culture Programs Intern for Freshkills Park. She was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, but she has come to call New York City her second home. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy with a concentration on Urban Policy at Columbia University.