Allison’s interest in conservation evolved from an affection for the natural world, appreciation for our delicate ecosystems, and enthusiasm for bird watching. She turned her interest into a career starting at the New River Land Trust in 2017, where she successfully established a grant-funded, youth bird-watching program in addition to working to preserve Virginia’s Appalachian landscape. She joined VOF in April 2019, where she continues to facilitate the protection of some of Virginia’s most beautiful and treasured landscapes. At Virginia Commonwealth University she studied wetland science, restoration ecology, and environmental policy, and graduated in 2016 with a master’s in environmental studies. She spends most of her spare time in her kayak on the James and Rappahannock rivers and taking her dogs on outdoor adventures.