Research Interns

Maggie Melin is a research associate at the Green Infrastructure Center. She is conducting research and outreach for several GIC projects such as a green infrastructure assessment for Accomack County on the Virginia coast and a review of green infrastrucurre planning capacity in the southern U.S., and she is a teaching assistant for green infrastructure courses at the Univeristy of Virginia (UVA). She is currently working on her master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning at UVA's School of Architecture and is focused on both environmental planning and urban design. She received her B.S. in statistics from the University of Michigan. She developed an interest in urban environmental planning after living in the San Francisco Bay Area for several years.

Associates

Kate Bird, Researcher and Analyst

Kate Bird is a researcher and analyst for the GIC and provides E² Inc with analytical and technical support to EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST), Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI), and Superfund Program. Ms. Bird's project work has included alternative fuels policy research, Web site development and management, GIS-based mapping analyses, and analytical support of the Superfund Five Year Review process. For SRI, Ms. Bird has conducted site assessments and developed reuse scenarios for ecological and recreational land uses and historic preservation at several Superfund sites and coordinated the production of videos highlighting reuse successes. Ms. Bird has developed graphic design materials for EPA conferences, case studies, trainings, and reports and has also served as a coordinator and facilitator for community-based watershed management meetings in Virginia.

Christy Cunnington, Researcher and Analyst

Christy Cunnington is a researcher and analyst for the GIC. For E² Inc Ms. Cunnington works mainly on Five Year Reviews, redevelopment of contaminated properties, the removal of barriers to reuse at Superfund sites, and the development and implantation of land revitalization performance measures. She received her bachelor's degree in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Amanda Goyne, Environmental Scientist

Amanda Goyne, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist with the GIC and has experience applying in-field research, data collection, and analysis to the technical study of coastal marine and wetland conservation issues.  Previous research has included analyses of trophic dynamics in coastal Virginia and population dynamics of threatened marine mammals along the Eastern coast of the United States. In addition, Dr. Goyne has experience communicating technical issues and facilitating understanding of these issues by a wide array of audiences, including presentation of research findings at 14 academic conferences, development and presentation of technical trainings, and outreach to school classrooms.  As Deputy Program Manager for a contract with the Office of Underground Storage Tanks and Work Assignment Manager for a Hazard Ranking System Superfund contract, Dr. Goyne has a broad understanding of technical issues related to water quality, ground and surface water processes, fate and transport of contaminants in water, and the effects of these contaminants on habitats, plants, and animals.  Dr. Goyne has a doctorate and a master’s degree in environmental sciences and a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Sarah Malpass - Bio Coming Soon

Miranda Maupin, Project Manager

Miranda Maupin works with the GIC on community planning and design. She is a senior associate with GIC's partner firm E² Inc where she is the Manager of the Community Planning and Design Team. Ms. Maupin brings more than eleven years of public-sector planning, policy, urban redevelopment, and stakeholder involvement experience to her current work in land use planning for Superfund and brownfield impacted communities. She is recognized for her expertise in leading multi-disciplinary teams to resolve complex environmental and development conflicts that address state and federal requirements with an approach tailored to the needs of local jurisdictions. Her track record of finding win-win solutions for public agencies and local stakeholders is based on a solid understanding of the site specific regulatory requirements, technical analysis and community values. Ms. Maupin has developed site designs, legislation, policies, programs and capital projects. During her prior role as a senior strategic advisor for the City of Seattle, she led multi-disciplinary teams to initiate sustainable redevelopment projects, including High Point which was featured in the PBS series, Edens Lost and Found as a national example of sustainability. Ms. Maupin holds a MLA from the University of Washington and was a recipient of the “Excellence in Government” Award from Harvard Business School.

Matt Robbie, Environmental Planner & GIS Analyst

Matt Robbie is a geographer, environmental planner and GIS analyst with GIC. He has six years experience in community and environmental planning.  Working with organizations, local, state, and federal governments, he has developed land-use planning strategies for the restoration, protection, and preservation of scenic roads and byways, national heritage corridors and former industrial properties. 

Mr. Robbie also works with E² Inc. as an associate planner on the Community Planning and Design Team to assist communities in developing reuse strategies for Superfund sites and environmentally impaired properties. Prior to joining E² Inc., he worked as a graduate associate at the University of Virginia's Institute for Environmental Negotiation, coordinating a community watershed-planning project in Fairfax County, Virginia. He has also worked as an assistant planner in landscape architecture firms in Middlebury, VT, and Providence, RI. He received his master's degree in Urban & Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and his bachelor of arts in geography from the University of Vermont.

Krissy Russell-Hedstrom, Environmental Scientist

Krissy Russell-Hedstrom, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist with the GIC and IAP2 certified in public participation. She has taught chemistry and environmental science at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado, where she also directed the school's recycling program and served as science department chair. She has also worked as a field science and outdoor education instructor at the Gore Range Natural Science School in Red Cliff, Colorado. Dr. Russell-Hedstrom received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 1994, an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia in 1997, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia in 2002. Her graduate research focused on wet and dry nitrogen deposition to sensitive waterbodies on the mid-Atlantic U.S. coast and she has published her findings in several research journals.

Pei-Jen Shaner, Environmental Planner and GIS Modeler

Pei-Jen Shaner, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist and database and systems analyst with the GIC. Dr. Shaner has more than 12 years combined experience in research, analysis and applications programming in support of environmental and natural resource management and planning.  Primary areas of her expertise include research design, GIS analysis and modeling, data compilation and synthesis, applications and Website development, and database design and management.   Dr. Shaner is also the Information Technology Manager for E² Inc. Prior to her current position, she worked as the IT Manager for the Virginia State Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Natural Heritage, overseeing Virginia’s state-wide green infrastructure modeling project.  In addition to her professional experience in IT and GIS, she also had extensive experience conducting field work for universities and research institutions in the field of wildlife ecology and natural resources management, such as regional biodiversity inventory (GIS-based approach) and wildlife habitat assessment for conservation planning and human-wildlife conflict management. She received her Ph.D. in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia. She also has an M.S. from National Dong-Hwa University's Institute of Natural Resources, Taiwan, and earned her Bachelor of Law from National Taiwan University.

James Wilkinson, Researcher, Editor and Land Use Planner

James Wilkinson is a researcher, editor, and land use planner with the GIC.  Mr. Wilkinson has eleven years of experience and at E² Inc provides technical support to communities as they generate and evaluate options for reuse planning and land revitalization initiatives for environmentally impaired properties. He has visited, managed, and served as a researcher, trainer, and facilitator at most of these sites. Mr. Wilkinson has a master's degree from the University of Virginia in Urban and Environmental Planning; he also has an M.A. in American Literature from Cambridge University and a BA in English and History from the College of William and Mary. Prior to joining E² Inc., Mr. Wilkinson worked as a journalist, a freelance editor, and as a writer for the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia.

Johnny Zimmerman-Ward, Field Technician

Johnny Zimmerman-Ward is a field technician for the GIC. She is also involved in a variety of projects with E² Inc. including website management, conference support, and research and data analysis. Additionally, Ms. Zimmerman-Ward has worked as a program specialist at a team and leadership development consulting firm. Ms. Zimmerman-Ward received a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Virginia.