Hi everyone! My name is Mandi and I am thrilled to be part of the Unique Places to Save team, and continue to help advance our ongoing conservation and restoration efforts. I bring experience in public health, project management, and community engagement to the organization.
My professional journey began in local government, where I took on various roles focused on community service and improvement. Over the course of my tenure at my previous job, I successfully secured several federal grants and managed those projects from conception to completion. I also played a key role in budget management for two counties, demonstrating effective stewardship of federal, state, and local funds.
For the last 18 months, I served as a resident advocate, where I amplified the voices of residents living in long-term care facilities and worked closely with facility administration to better serve the residents’ rights, needs, and wants. These roles strengthened my ability to oversee complex projects and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, resulting in innovative initiatives. My skills in advocacy, leadership, and my commitment to ensuring underserved and underrepresented populations are heard and supported were further strengthened and refined.
While working full-time, I went on to earn dual Master’s degrees in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Environmental Health and Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This unique combination of coursework equipped me with a deep understanding of environmental justice, public health, and business practices.
During graduate school, I interned with the Dan Riverkeeper where I had the opportunity to do pioneering research on this important natural asset for Virginia and North Carolina. I worked with local and state governments to accurately identify - for the first time ever - the number of communities and people who sourced their drinking water from the Dan River. Through this project, along with the continuing research into the water quality of the river, Dan Riverkeeper and I were able to effectively communicate the river's impact on public health across a number of local communities with over 128,000 people. I am fascinated by the intersection of environmental and public health, and enjoy working on projects like this that directly affect the other.
After graduation, I knew I found the path to make a lasting impact and leave my legacy. I continued to actively seek out volunteer opportunities with regional riverkeeper organizations and national conservation groups, gaining more practical knowledge and hands-on experience in water quality monitoring and habitat restoration. I also completed courses on watershed management, sustainable forestry, and ecosystem restoration. What began with a single environmental justice course quickly evolved into years-long dedication and a career change. I am excited to continue learning and growing within this space.
My goal is to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future by protecting the ecosystems that support both human and ecological health, ensuring both are able to thrive for generations to come. I am eager to contribute to Unique Places to Save’s mission and to make a meaningful impact on land and aquatic resource conservation and restoration across the country!