The McCullough Fellowship
The McCullough Fellows program at UNC Asheville was launched in the summer of 2015. Through this competitive program, undergraduates complete an applied research project in collaboration with a faculty advisor and local partner organization. Each fellowship includes funding for students, materials support, and a faculty and community partner stipend. The projects address one or more of the following areas: land use and conservation; urban planning; sustainable agriculture; resilience and environmental sustainability.
2025 Fellows
Atticus Brooks
Project: “From Awareness to Action: The Role of Native Pollinators in Influencing Public Support for Conservation Efforts”
Community Partner: Bryan Tompkins, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Faculty Advisor: Caitlin Brez, Psychology
Jade Bush
Project: “Hydrogeochemistry of a Southern Appalachian Wetland Post-Helene”
Community Partner: Kathryn Loughran, Botany Research Specialist, NC State Plant Conservation
Faculty Advisor: Jeff Wilcox, Environmental Science
Harshada Foote
Project: “Assessing Tropical Storm Helene Damage on UNCA’s Chestnut Ridge Forest to Guide Recovery”
Community Partner: Andy Tait, Forestry Director, EcoForesters
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Horton, Biology
Ian Miller
Project: “Controlled Pastured Poultry Impacts on Soil Properties and Biomass in Silvopasture Systems”
Community Partner: Lyric East, Farmer, Wild East Farm
Faculty Advisor: Jake Hagedorn, Environmental Science
Ximena Reyna-Campozano
Project: “Exploring Planting Patterns with Native Plants to Maximize Ecosystem Services”
Community Partner: Copland Rudolph, Asheville City Schools Foundation
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Rhode Ward, Biology
Olivia Williams
Project: “Using Aquatic Macroinvertebrates to Assess Hurricane Helene’s Effect on Stream Health and Ecology in the Swannanoa River Watershed”
Community Partner: Renee Fortner, Director of Programs, RiverLink
Faculty Advisor: David Gillette, Environmental Science
Kasidy Loggins
Project: “Climate Emergency Preparedness in the Form of Self-Sufficiency”
Community Partner: Dulce Mirian Porras, Semilla de Vida Huertos and Elevate AVL
Faculty Advisor: Sara Sanders, STEAM Studio
Adam Wold
Project: “Designing Green-Solvent Processable Polymers for Organic Solar Cells”
Community Partner: Rob Simon, Sugar Hollow Solar, Commercial Inside Sales Coordinator
Faculty Advisor: Jeromy Rech, Chemistry