Hello everybody,
My name is Evan Michael Shreffler (he/him/his), and I am excited that I am able to join the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed this Autumn 2022 as a Policy Intern.
Coming out of a small-town in central PA, I was surrounded by farmland and forests, which, reflecting on that now, coincides with the interests I hold today. In high school, I spent a lot of time volunteering for the Gleaning Project, which is an action to reduce food loss on local farms and increase food security in the area’s communities. I also became connected with conservation issues in the waterways and parks near me, participating in stream studies and clean-ups, among other things. Heading to college, I was above all interested in helping people and protecting the environment.
I am a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania from Chambersburg, PA. During my time in college, I began studying Chemical/Environmental Engineering, but I eventually switched majors to Environmental Policy & Application because I was interested in making a positive impact while connecting and interacting with decision makers and stakeholders. I really enjoyed the wide variety of courses that I was able to undertake that helped me expand my knowledge and appeal to my academic curiosity. Particularly, I enjoyed learning about how to champion change in the environmental landscape, whether that be through robust policy, collective advocacy, public education, or organized action.
Prior to joining CDRW, I worked as an environmental educator at the Schuylkill Center in Philadelphia, teaching young people about topics like the importance of our state parks, the vitality of our watersheds, how to sample and test for the quality of our air, water, and soil, and more! I enjoyed this experience because I love connecting and interacting with others regarding our shared passion for the environment.
I came to the Coalition because I am interested in being at the forefront of educating officials and communities about our environment, and how its health goes hand-in-hand with our future well being. In the long-term, I hope to remain working in environmental policy and law as I strongly believe this work is crucial and it suits my passions for the environment and my desire to help people and make an impact. Through this internship, I hope to strengthen my love for the environment while contributing to the objectives of CDRW and our members. As I continue to learn new and nuanced topics related to our watershed priorities, I hope that I can support others engaged in this important work.
I am looking forward to working with everyone!