About the Randal Fellowship

The hybrid eight-week program gives participants a practical and comprehensive understanding of the role of nonprofit and local engagement in addressing complex and interdisciplinary environmental issues faced by communities today.

Five weeks of the program will be online through Google Meet/Zoom, featuring Socratic seminar-style classroom discussions, guest lectures, and assignments to practice knowledge and skill application. Three weeks will be devoted to an in-person stay in Northern Virginia, with off-site excursions to conservation properties owned by PEC and key sites in our nine-county area and the City of Charlottesville. Fellows will be engaged in hands-on activities, fieldwork, educational tours, and recreation — from hikes at state and national parks to a float down the Rappahannock River. Along the way, fellows will explore how individual and collective action can shape the short and long-term futures of communities, the climate, and the environment as a whole.

The program culminates in a collaborative real–world practicum, during which fellows will choose a research focus of interest based on a particular aspect of PEC’s work in the Virginia Piedmont.

Subjects covered:

• Public policy and law

• Land conservation

• Grassroots advocacy

• Land use/regional planning 

• Habitat management and restoration

• Renewable energy

• Sustainable agriculture

• Historic preservation

• Environmental fieldwork

• Nonprofit leadership, development and communications

• Geographic information systems (GIS) mapping

• and more!

The Randal Fellowship is named after the late Judy Randal, who supported the development of the program to provide direct conservation experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. A renowned journalist, Judy was a strong believer in education and the importance of sharing the success of PEC in conservation, environmental policy, and civic engagement.

Judy was a long-time supporter of PEC and a trailblazer for women in journalism. She received numerous national awards for her science and health writing and served as president of the National Association of Science Writers.  Judy was also actively involved in the Loudoun community. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of PEC, Judy served on the Boards of the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia, the Loudoun Health Commission and the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging. She was an avid supporter of environmental groups locally and globally.