Council Welcomes Four Summer Interns

The Iowa Environmental Council is pleased to welcome four college interns to its team this summer. The interns will be assisting with a range of projects to further the Council's efforts on clean water and energy. The four students, who are working from June through August, are pursuing different areas of study, but all have a strong interest in careers that involve environmental advocacy.

Rachel Campbell

Rachel Campbell is a full-time intern with the water program. Rachel is from Anamosa, Iowa, and is a third-year law student at Vermont Law School, where she is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Law & Policy. After graduation she would like to purse an advocacy position that helps to protect people’s human rights from adverse environmental impacts.

During her internship, Rachel is assisting the Council’s water program director with a few projects, including researching the possibility of reclassification of streams under the Clean Water Act within Iowa and investigating coal combustion waste storage regulations in Iowa.

Stephanie Gaub

Stephanie Gaub is a part-time intern who is serving as one of the water quality interns. Stephanie is from Brookfield, Wisconsin, and a senior at Drake University earning degrees in English and History. After graduation she plans to work at a non-profit or as a print editor.

During her internship, Stephanie is assisting the Council’s agricultural policy specialist on a project reviewing the health risks of nutrient pollution, especially from nitrates.

Olivia Parker

Olivia is a part-time intern who is serving as the energy policy intern. Olivia is from Ankeny, Iowa, and is a junior at Columbia University in New York City, where she is studying Sustainable Development. After graduation she is considering furthering her education in sustainable studies or environmental law.

During her internship, Olivia is assisting the Council’s climate/energy policy specialist and energy program director in researching the economic benefits of wind energy in counties throughout Iowa.

Sydney Samples

Sydney Samples is a part-time intern serving as one of the water quality interns. Sydney is from Des Moines, Iowa, and is a sophomore at Simpson College earning degrees in Political Science, Environmental Studies and minoring in Spanish.  After graduation she plans on attending law school to study environmental law.

During her internship, Sydney is assisting many members of Council’s team with a variety of tasks to review water monitoring of Iowa’s different water sources, including Iowa’s rivers and state park beaches.

In addition to working on their individual projects, the interns are attending field days, staff meetings, project meetings and helping with various Council events and activities, including its recent annual ProH2O gathering.

“The Council appreciates the opportunity to work with these talented young people who are volunteering their time to help us with important projects, and also to learn more about the work of the Counciland the larger nonprofit world,” said Agricultural Policy Specialist Ann Robinson.  “We value their contributions and hope they will find the summer educational and inspirational.”