MARGARET EMERSON OLIVER

oliveme0@sewanee.edu (801) 389-6798 emersonoliver.weebly.com

EDUCATION
Sewanee: The University of the South
Graduation: May 2016
Major: Environment and Sustainability Minor: Anthropology

Sewanee, TN

GPA: 3.93 95th Percentile of Class Omicron Delta Kappa Ecce Quam Bonum Merit Scholarship
International Honors Program: Climate Change
August-December 2014
School for International Training
Vietnam, Morocco, Bolivia
Traveled across 4 continents to study the politics of food, water, and energy comparatively in the context of
global climate change; conducted independent research on community water management and water
resource conflicts in Morocco and Bolivia.
Saint Joseph Catholic High School
2009-2012

Ogden, UT

GPA: 3.9 Saint Joseph Award, given to two graduates who best uphold the schools values Academic
Excellence Award, given to the one graduate with most passed AP Exams (9)

WORK EXPERIENCE
Kathryn S. Fuller Science for Nature Intern
Summer 2015

World Wildlife Fund

Washington, DC

Assisted in planning and organizing the Fuller Science for Nature Symposium, an annual event that brings worldclass scientists to discuss critically important conservation issues. Researched top scientists and professionals in
the field for speaking opportunities wrote invitation letters, drafted event agendas.
Adirondack Conservation Intern
Summer 2014
The Nature Conservancy and Adirondack Land Trust

Keene Valley, NY

Worked on a summer-long project surveying and mapping major barriers to trout habitat continuity in the
Ausable Watershed, collecting data points in the field and analyzing them through GIS. Assisted the director of
communications in writing content about nature reserves and conservation easements for the TNC website and
annual reports. Led bi-monthly canoeing/hiking donor trips on nature reserves.
Canale Intern: Utility Conservation Program Coordinator
Fall 2013
Sewanee Outreach Office/ Office of Sustainability

Sewanee, TN

Served 4 hours each week as leader and founder of a program that conducts Energy and Water Audits on lowincome homes in order to reduce utility bills for each household while reducing carbon footprint.
South Cumberland Environmental Education and Event Intern
Spring 2013
Friends of South Cumberland State Parks

Monteagle, TN

Assisted in Environmental and Wildlife Education programs for local elementary schools and youth
organizations. Planned fundraiser events for the organization.
Archaeological Field Assistant: Colca Pukaras Archaeological Project
Summer 2013

Vanderbilt University

Assisted PhD candidate conduct archaeological excavations and survey of a Pre-Inca settlement.

Chivay, Peru

Writer/Photographer/Correspondent
2010- 2012

Standard Examiner

Ogden, UT

Wrote reviews, columns, and feature stories with photographs for a newspaper with over 63,000 subscribers.
Sales Associate
2015-2016

The Mountain Outfitters

Monteagle, TN

Serves as a sales associate for an outfitter specializing in outdoor clothing and equipment. Helped customers
plan trips throughout the southeast.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH +EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Well-Directed Curiosity Volunteer, Sewanee Elementary: 2 Semesters, 2015-2016

24 hours/semester

Leads a group of 15 2nd grade girls in a once-a-week program with the mission of promoting environmental
education, play in nature, and outdoor skills.
Environmental Education Volunteer, South Pittsburgh Elementary: 1 Semester, 2015

10 hours/semester

Leads a group of 30 kindergarten through 6th graders in a once-a-week after-school environmental education
program as a part of a practicum for a formal class in environmental education.
Green House Resident: 2 Semesters, 2015-2016
60 hours/semester
Resident of the Green House, a highly selective theme house for students at the University of the South that
exists as a space to host educational events about sustainable living and promote campus-wide environmental
initiatives.
Sewanee Outing Program Leader: 2 Semesters, 2015-2016
3 Day Intensive+3 trips/semester
Serves as a Pre-Orientation Leader, assisting in leading hiking trips for incoming freshman. Leads weekend hiking
and backpacking trips around the Southeast throughout the academic year.
Community Wellness House Resident: 1 Semester, 2015
60 hours/semester
Resident of the Community Wellness House, a theme house at the University of the South that exists to provide a
space for programs and events that promote the mental, emotional, and physical health of students.
Beersheba Community Garden Volunteer: 1 Semester, 2015

24 hours/semester

Assisted in establishing a small community garden located on the grounds of a free medical clinic in Beersheba
Springs, TN as a part of a biology class entitled Human Health and the Environment. Directed, shot, and edited
a short documentary film to encourage donations for the upkeep of the garden.
Assistant Proctor for Finding Your Place First-Year program 2013-2014

10 Day intensive+ 30 hours/semester

Academically mentored a group of freshmen through a 10-day intensive orientation course in geology,
ecology, and nature writing. Continued to serve as a mentor throughout the academic year in a residential
setting.
Agroforestry and Carbon Sequestration Project: 2 weeks, March 2014
2 Week intensive
Worked with the ongoing Zamni Kafe project, a partnership between the Biology Department of the University
of the South and the Haitian agronomy program Zamni Agrikol. Conducted demographic surveys of Haitian
farmers for the purposes of implementing a project that allows Haitian coffee farmers to be paid for carbon
credits while coffee seedlings are maturing.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH
2015-2016 Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: Public Perception in Sewanee, TN
In the process of conducting primary and secondary research to produce a 35+ page capstone project
assessing public attitudes towards wastewater treatment in Sewanee, TN. This research is being done in
preparation for the introduction of a constructed wetland to further treat wastewater for persistent organic

pollutants. The end product of this research will be the designing of an outreach campaign that will educate
and involve community members so that they can make informed decisions about wastewater management
and, potentially, water recycling. Supervisor: Dr. Deborah McGrath
2015 Heat, Fish, and Sheep: Sustainable Foodways in Iceland
Produced a 12-page paper exploring sustainability issues in Icelands primary modes of food production
(fishing, grazing, and using geothermal greenhouses), using a combination of secondary and primary research
methods that took course over a 10-day class in-country. Supervisor: Dr. Russell Fielding
2014 Our Water: Water Resource Conflicts and Community Water Management Systems
Conducted primary research, interviewing community members and NGO officials, comparing the legacies of
two 21st-century water resource conflicts and the resulting community water management systems in Ben
Smim, Morocco and Cochabamba, Bolivia. Resulted in a 20-page final project. Supervisor: Dr. Ayesha Siddiqui

SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Spanish Language
Conducted research and lived with a host family for 5 weeks in Cochabamba, Bolivia. (NovemberDecember 2014)
Worked on an Archaeological site with Spanish-speaking colleagues for 5 weeks in Chivay, Peru. (JuneJuly 2013).
2 Semesters of 300-Level College Spanish. (2012-2013)
4 years High School Spanish. 3 years Honors-level, final year AP Spanish. (2009-2012)
Project WILD and Aquatic WILD Certification (2015)

Council For Environmental Education

Certified after 1-day intensive training for designed for educators who wish to incorporate outdoor teaching
methodologies and environmental material into state curriculum standards.
Wilderness Advanced First Aid Certification (2015)
Wilderness Medical Associates
Certified after 4-Day intensive training designed for trip leaders and those traveling or working in remote areas.
Focuses on stabilization, treatment and evacuation guidelines for patients in backcountry environments.
Emphasis is placed on long term patient care management and specific injury evaluation.