Who We Are

Our reflection in a mirror on South Main Street -- while Heather guides us through the Making-Of her Choice and Voice Walk. Clockwise from noon to eleven: Derren, Anja (with camera), Charlotte, Heather, Susan, Gretchen.

Anja H. Bieri
Doctoral Student and Instructor, SPIA, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Virginia Tech. In her Ph.D., Anja focusses on the socio-spatial dimensions of walking. Creating the Blacksburg Walks project and teaching this interdisciplinary class is closely related to her research. [email protected]

Derren Rosbach
Visiting instructor at SPIA, Virginia Tech. Co-instructor on the special-study class SPIA 2984 in spring 2011. The overarching goal of Derren’s teaching and research is to contribute to an interdisciplinary understanding of human-environment interactions and the broader networks of governance that constitute public decision-making forums. [email protected]

Susan Ahn
Undergraduate Student, Double Major: International Studies – Global Development and Economics. Minor: Spanish. University Honors Scholar.
She is an officer of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and a member of Sierra Club, Oxfam International, and Blacksburg Meditation Group. Her educational interests are in international organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, Red Cross, which she hopes to be able to work for in the future. Outside of school, Susan is a musician and singer, and an enthusiast of the television show The Office, exercising, and journal writing. [email protected]

Gretchen Allen
Undergraduate Student, Communications, University Honors Scholar. Gretchen is graduating this spring and getting her feet wet in the world of interpretation with a National Forest Internship in Santa Fe New Mexico.

Heather MacLeish
Undergraduate Student, Major: Architecture, Minors: Business Leadership, Industrial Design. University Honors Scholar. Heather is interested in incorporating aspects of environmental conservation and communal living into her architectural studies and everyday life. After college, she hopes to join the Peace Corp and introduce practical and sustainable solutions of shelter and agriculture to developing communities. Outside of her academics, Heather plays on the VT Women’s Water Polo sports club and volunteers for Big Brother Big Sister of America.  [email protected]

Charlotte Maitland
Undergraduate Student, Major: Agriculture and Applied Economics. Environmental Economic Management. Minor: Civic Agriculture and Food Systems. Charlotte is interested in providing a suitable future for ourselves and future generations through conservation methods and improved environmental agricultural practices. Believing the Agriculture industry is the way into the future since it sustain all of our daily needs already, she hopes to improve policies in small communities and help the public understand the true value of Agriculture. Outside of school and work life, Charlotte is an avid dancer, gardener and is aspiring to become a private pilot. [email protected]