“Hosting the Bay Advocacy Institute at Susquehanna connected students’ interests in environmental science and policy with real-world action,” said Siobhan Fathel, assistant professor of earth & environmental sciences at Susquehanna University. “Through expert guidance, hands-on learning and advocacy training, students explored how they can make a difference in their communities and help protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed.”
The Bay Advocacy Institute includes:
-- Four to five hours of on-campus training sessions that include presentations, workshops and discussions. Topics include federal and state advocacy, climate change and optimism, environmental justice and environmental law.
-- An immersive field experience led by expert CBF educators. Students join by canoe to study the dynamic ecosystems of local streams and rivers, while investigating local issues through water quality and biotic sampling.
-- Mentoring to complete a Student Advocacy Plan, through which students dig deeper into an issue in their own community and brainstorm actionable solutions they can take to address that issue.
-- The option to become a Certified Chesapeake Bay Advocate.
Approximately 20 Susquehanna students attended the institute, which offered professional networking opportunities and interdisciplinary career resources while students explored topics such as watershed restoration and environmental restoration efforts at both the state and federal levels, said Natalie Dodson ’27, an earth & environmental sciences major from Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania.
“I gained a better understanding of the importance of environmental advocacy at both the federal and local levels,” Dodson said. “Advocacy can take many forms, whether it involves contacting legislators to oppose harmful bills or educating communities about environmental solutions.”
Erin Bevan ’30, of Houston, Pennsylvania, came to Susquehanna to major in environmental studies and public policy.
She participated in the Bay Advocacy Institute as a first step toward “getting involved in real-world institutions that are making a change.
“My biggest takeaway from the program is how simple it is to advocate. I have done my research on civic involvement, but this really broke down how small actions can make a difference for a cause people care about,” Bevan said. “The program’s focus on policy was also of great interest to me.”
Bevan already has an eye on her postgraduate goals. She hopes to work for Congress, drafting environmental legislation targeted at curbing human impact. Dodson wants to pursue a career in watershed conservation.
“The Bay Advocacy Institute was an important program to bring to Susquehanna because it provided students with an opportunity to learn about protecting one of the largest and most diverse estuaries in the United States,” Dodson said. “The Chesapeake Bay supports over 3,000 species and provides numerous valuable ecosystem services, including recreational opportunities and drinking water for millions of people.”
Click Here for the Susquehanna University announcement.
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[Posted: November 10, 2026] PA Environment Digest
