It’s with both sadness and excitement that today we announce the departure of ETCleanFuels’ Special Projects Coordinator, Sarah E. Roth. Sarah has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to conduct conservation research in the Appalachian region.
Sarah is excited to continue the work path begun during her undergraduate career. She graduated in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and an impressive list of publications, awards, and recognitions. “I will be stepping down as Special Projects Coordinator to pursue an opportunity to help rethink biodiversity protection approaches for the new era of climate change in the Appalachian region. The goal of the project is to identify the most efficient ways to protect the species that depend on the incredible landscape of the Appalachians. Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation, I will be working with an interdisciplinary team of skilled researchers, natural resource managers, and non-profit stakeholders to develop a conservation plan for this region.”
Sarah reflects, “I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to spend the past year contributing to the goals of East Tennessee Clean Fuels. As a non-traditional candidate for my position, I was welcomed with open arms to a community that was excited to impart a breadth of knowledge, ranging from non-profit management skills to the nitty-gritty details of the world of alternative fuels. I remain thoroughly invested in the work being done by the coalition to create a cleaner world for the future.”
Sarah joined the Coalition in September 2020 as part of the Clean Cities University Workplace Development Program, and quickly established herself as an invaluable member of our team. It became clear that Sarah’s wide range of talents could be applied to the Coalition’s data management projects, as well as web design, web server support, Coalition outreach efforts and non-profit management. Sarah successfully tackled major projects for the Coalition, including a complete overhaul of our accounting system, the planning and design of two major project websites, art and graphic design for digital and in-person campaigns, and electric vehicle data analysis.
In her year with the Coalition, Sarah brought drive, dedication, and joy to our office. All of us at East Tennessee Clean Fuels will miss her presence in the office, and we wish her the best as she embarks on an undoubtedly successful career in the biological sciences. Good luck, Sarah!
