Upstate Institute News and Announcements

This summer, I had the opportunity to work with Champlain Area Trails (CATs), a non-profit organization based in Westport, NY, in the Champlain Valley region of the Adirondacks. Throughout my fellowship, I conducted maintenance on the vast trail network under CAT’s domain and conducted research in the Essex Quarry Nature Preserve on invasive species mitigation and the growth of native plants.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Madison County to address the question: What is the demand for and feasibility of establishing a shared-use commercial kitchen in Madison County? This project’s research question was developed in response to the 2024 closure of Nelson Farms, Madison County’s only value-added processing facility.

This summer, I worked with the Chenango County Historical Society and Museum (CCHS) in Norwich, NY, which preserves and presents the county’s cultural history. My role focused on expanding the museum’s digital storytelling to reflect community diversity and ensure all voices are heard and preserved.

This summer, I interned with AdkAction, a Keeseville-based nonprofit that develops community initiatives to address challenges in the Adirondacks. I worked on the Adirondack Pollinator Project, a collaboration with Paul Smith’s College, the Wild Center, and the Northern New York Audubon Society to expand pollinator habitat and collect data to support long-term conservation.

I had the pleasure of working with The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) as a small business research fellow. ANCA is a non-profit organization that works to build a strong and resilient economy in northern New York, focusing on areas such as food systems, clean energy, small business, and equity and inclusion.

This summer, I worked with the Community Action Partnership for Madison County (CAP) as a data analyst for their 2025-2028 Community Needs Assessment. An anti-poverty agency founded in 1986, CAP addresses overlooked poverty in the region; its programs range from WIC to housing support, helping low-income families build the tools and resources needed for long-term self-sufficiency.

This summer, I worked with the Oneida Community Mansion House (OCMH) to support its mission and history. My role focused on expanding OCMH’s oral history project and exhibit, “More Than a Silverware Company,” by reviewing nearly 50 hours of interviews to highlight stories that capture the legacy of Oneida Ltd.

Over the past ten weeks I have been completely immersed in agriculture across Central New York. This summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Central New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crop (CNYDLFC) team, alongside Field Crop Specialist Erik Smith.

During my summer as a Field School Fellow, I had the privilege of working with two incredible nonprofits: the Adirondack Community Foundation (ACF), based out of Lake Placid, and the Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI) in Saranac Lake. Both organizations employ community-building strategies to cultivate stronger support networks within the Adirondack region, but go about doing so through vastly different strategies.

As a 2025 summer fellow with the Ausable Freshwater Center, I contributed to nursery and restoration projects through seed collection, propagation, irrigation installation, assisting with volunteer days, and preparing for large-scale transplanting into a production field. I also designed an informal assessment to provide AFC with data about more efficient restoration methods.