ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern projects
In fall 2023, a team of paid interns was hired to contribute to the development of the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan and serve on one of the working groups. Throughout their internship, they were also tasked with completing a self-guided research project focused on the topic of their choosing and related to the working group they support. Over the course of a few months, they researched the topic and at the end of their internship presented their findings.
Orina Chen 
VCU senior majoring in psychology and minoring in business
Serving on the Environmental Issues Working Group
Final project: Environmental Impacts of Synthetic Fibers in Fast Fashion
Dean Hendricks
Graduated in December 2023 with a major in psychology and a minor in environmental studies
Serving on the Biodiversity and Campus Ecology Working Group
Final project: Plant Biodiversity, Pollinators, Predators of Pollinators, & their Relationship
Nitin Karnuri
VCU sophomore majoring in biology
Serving on the Environmental Issues Working Group
Final project: The Environmental Impact of Mercury in Dental School Settings
Trey Mount
VCU junior majoring in biology and pre med
Serving on the Health and Well-being Working Group
Final project: Not submitted
Roxanna Rafat
VCU senior majoring in urban and regional studies and psychology
Serving on the Environmental Equity, Partnerships and Engagement Working Group
Final project: What can a Campus Green Fund look like at VCU?
Bobby Scott 
Fourth-year medical student with an intended specialty of emergency medicine
Serving on the Health and Well-being Working Group
Final project: An Opportunity for Health Equity
Jade Shull 
VCU sophomore majoring in environmental studies and urban and regional studies
Serving on the Biodiversity and Campus Ecology Working Group
Final project: Increasing native species and biodiversity on VCU’s campus
Carissa Trieu
VCU junior majoring in computer science
Serving on the Teaching, Research and Innovation Working Group
Final project: Integration of sustainability into undergraduate engineering programs
Christine Wellstood 
VCU senior majoring in English and political science
Serving on the Teaching, Research and Innovation Working Group
Final project: Integration of sustainability into undergraduate engineering programs