Member Bios

Evan is a Master's Degree candidate in Sustainable Systems (Ms3) at Slippery Rock University. He works with PennFuture and the Black and Gold City Goes Green campaign educating the public on the actions that they can take to reduce their impact. He also spends a few days a week with CCI (Conservation Consultant Incorporated ) at the CCI Center. There, you can find him maintaining one of the many Sustainable Systems installations demonstrated at the facility or giving a tour of the LEED rated building. His passion for the environment and environmental issues came from his studies of sustainable growth and "sustainable regrowth" as a Political Science Major. It is his belief that we have the capacity to live in balance with the Earth's processes and species and benefit from both. We need only the desire to change, and the recognition that the current state of unbalance will inevitably lead us to a Dystopia. The question that drives our actions should be, to quote William McDonough, "How do we love all the children of all species for all time?". He enjoys hiking and all things Laurel Highlands - including his home town of Ligonier, PA, but wishes that there was a lite rail train that went to it. You may have also seen him on a stage in Pittsburgh acting with one of the many companies he has worked with in the last few years.

Adam grew up with a park at the end of his block, where he would frolic with other neighborhood children on the playground and around the pond. His lifelong attachment to parks and greenspace expanded and flourished when he attended Southern Illinois University, surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest and many other wonderful nature spaces. As his college years progressed, he developed a beard, as well as a stronger connection to the outdoors. He explored state parks and discovered the intrinsic value of protecting and preserving nature and the environment. While at school, he worked with the Student Environmental Center to help implement a green fund at SIUC, which now generates $200,000 annually for renewable energy and sustainability projects at the university. He was also President of the Geography Club his senior year, where he and nine other club members received the Environmental Ambassador award for each volunteering over thirty hours towards environmentally related projects in the area.

After school, Adam landed his first Student Conservation Association internship. He served as an Environmental Education intern with the National Park Service in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the fall of 2009. Enthralled with his experience as an SCA intern, he sought out a more long-term position, which led to his discovery of the Green Cities Corps. He has now upgraded from a small park at the end of his block to four large, beautiful city parks in Pittsburgh that he works in and explores with his childish exuberance still intact.

Sarah Palmisano grew up in Grand Rapids, MI, and graduated with a double Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science and Psychology from Michigan State University. She became interested in environmental issues the summer of 2008, when she served as the Sustainability Coordinator Intern for the City of Grand Haven, Michigan. Here, she was responsible for setting up and managing an environmental education center as well as serving as the City’s sustainability liaison. She became passionate about global sustainability and the environment and enjoyed working in the municipal setting. Sarah completed her coursework at Michigan State University where she continued to explore the field of environmental sustainability, volunteering at an energy conservation demonstration house as well as taking general courses on global sustainability. She found the Student Conservation Association (SCA) at an Environmental and Natural Resources job fair, thereafter applying for, and receiving, a three-month internship doing Environmental Education in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She loved teaching children about the environment and wanted to continue working with the SCA, and was thrilled to find, and be accepted into, the Green Cities program. Sarah is doing her fellowship with the City of Pittsburgh, where she works in the Office of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency to help carry out the municipal recommendations of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan.

Originally from Warren PA, Jamie Eberl graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BS in Civil Engineering in 2009. Jamie has previously worked for the University of North Carolina Charlotte Environmental Assistance Office and as an intern for the city of Charlotte Engineering and Property Management Land Development Division. After graduation and many hours scouring the internet for job opportunities, Jamie applied for a Student Conservation Association fellowship with Green Cities Pittsburgh. Jamie’s interests include exploring new places, cookies, reading, and making amazing excel spreadsheets.

Hey all, my name is Alice and I am the Project leader for the upcoming trail season in Eldorado NF. I hail from the richly diverse state of New Jersey. I spent my time growing up split between NJ and Maine, fortunate enough to have the opportunity to appreciate both city and outdoor living.

After graduating with a Printmaking Degree from Purchase College, NY in 2008, I headed West to participate as a member for SCA's Desert Restoration Corps, team Wildcorps. Since then, I've led a High School crew in New Jersey, been a member on a leader crew in Kentucky, and am most recently coming out of the field from a Leadership Development Crew on the PCT in Southern California.

When I'm not moving rocks on trails for SCA, I love to keep myself and my dog busy with outdoor sports, soccer, and getting lost. If you ever find me inside, I'm probably baking.