Meet Our Summer 2025 Interns!
Summer has finally arrived at Bald Head Island, and so have the BHI Conservancy summer interns!
Let’s get to know the friendly faces who will be protecting sea turtles, researching wildlife, guiding you on nature tours, and so much more this summer:
Lainie
Role: Education Intern
Where are you from? Charlotte
Where do you/did you attend school? Graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Wildlife Biology.
Fun Facts: I have traveled to 30 of the 50 U.S. states, mostly to visit National Parks. I have a pet tree frog who is almost 20 years old!
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy scrapbooking, reading, spending time outside, and learning new things.
Why did you choose your team? I chose to be an education intern at BHIC because I am excited by the chance to teach people of all ages about the natural world and the role we play in protecting it. Education is one of the most powerful tools for change. Making a difference in the environment starts with inspiring others to care about conservation.
Favorite Animal on BHI: The sanderling, the little shorebirds you see running away from the waves at the beach. They are so cute!
Will
Role: Education Intern
Where are you from? Centreville, VA
Where do you/did you attend school? Virginia Tech: Fish Conservation major, Professional Sales minor
Fun Facts: I love Star Wars and my favorite food is pasta.
Hobbies: Fishing, going to the gym, listening to music
Why did you choose your team? I love teaching kids about the environment and how to fish. I thought being an education intern at BHIC would be a great way to improve my skills working with kids and learn how to teach the general public as well.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Great Blue Heron
Xander
Role: Education Intern
Where are you from? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Where do you/did you attend school? Currently attending Stockton University (a tiny school in the middle of the NJ Pinelands) for Marine Biology and Wildlife Management
Fun Facts: I am named after a character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I worked for an exotic pet rehousing facility.
Hobbies: I love to read, watch movies, hike, visit museums, go thrifting, do deep dives on obscure topics, and hang out with friends.
Why did you choose your team? I think there’s a gap between the research knowledge we have from academia and the actual distribution of information to the public. The only way to bridge the gap is to work together to build trust. That relationship starts with forming bonds between people and nature. I wanted to be an education intern at BHIC to help communicate science and the natural world to as many people as I can.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Eastern Glass Lizard
Ricky
Role: Education Intern
Where are you from? Winnsboro, South Carolina
Where do you/did you attend school? University of South Carolina, majoring in Geological Sciences and minoring in Studio Art
Fun Facts: My favorite animals are chickens, and I love collecting trinkets!
Hobbies: I enjoy collaging in my sketchbook, thrifting, and learning new facts about my favorite musicians that I can info-dump about.
Why did you choose your team? I love interacting with the public and being able to facilitate experiences that visitors may otherwise not have the opportunity to observe or interact with. I believe that the more exposure people have to nature, the more likely they are to respect it and be more conscious about their personal impacts.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Ibis
Grace
Role: Education Intern
Where are you from? Maryland
Where do you/did you attend school? Graduating from University of Delaware in the spring with a B.S. in Marine Science and Biology
Fun Facts: I have a twin sister, and I was a gymnast for 10 years.
Hobbies: I love to do embroidery and spend time outside.
Why did you choose your team? I love working with kids and teaching people about how to take care of our planet!
Favorite Animal on BHI: The Diamondback Terrapin
Bette
Role: Sea Turtle Intern
Where are you from? Madison, NJ
Where do you/did you attend school? Graduated from University of New Hampshire in Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology
Fun Facts: I was my school’s mascot. I’m trying to visit all the national parks.
Hobbies: I like to hike, read, and paint/draw.
Why did you choose your team? I wanted to get field experience, and I love sea turtles. This is an incredible and unique opportunity.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Sea turtles
Lexi
Role: Sea Turtle Intern
Where are you from? Greenville, SC
Where do you/did you attend school? Graduated from University of Central Florida. Majored in Biology with a specialized track in Marine & Aquatic Life
Fun Facts: I studied abroad in Australia in Spring 2023, and I love traveling and adventure!
Hobbies: Yoga, reading, writing, and poetry!
Why did you choose your team? Being a part of the sea turtle intern group meant dedicating my summer to helping save an endangered species that I, and many others, deeply cherish. I love the hands-on work we do in the field, and I am excited for this experience to boost my career in sea turtle conservation!
Favorite Animal on BHI: Loggerhead sea turtles!
Julia
Role: Sea Turtle Intern
Where are you from? Marblehead, Massachusetts
Where do you/did you attend school? Graduated from Boston College. Majored in Environmental Studies with a concentration in biodiversity conservation
Fun Facts: I spent the winter rehabbing cold-stunned sea turtles in New England. I was born on July 4th. I love banana bread.
Hobbies: I love running, reading, and spending time at the beach!
Why did you choose your team? The opportunity to participate in sea turtle research and spend the summer working in the field getting hands-on experience with data collection
Favorite Animal on BHI: Tree frogs
Mary
Role: Sea Turtle Intern
Where do you/did you attend school? Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology
Fun Facts: I have thru-hiked part of the Appalachian Trail. I have lived in five different states.
Hobbies: I enjoy drawing, reading, and hiking.
Why did you choose your team? It’s an amazing opportunity to learn and work with an endangered species.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Mud Turtles
Isabella
Role: Retail/Marketing/Development Intern
Where do you/did you attend school? West Virginia University; double major in Human Resource Management and Digital Marketing Promotions
Fun Facts: I’ve visited the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Hobbies: In my free time, I like to either play pickleball or go hiking
Why did you choose your team? I wanted a valuable learning opportunity. I’m interested in how businesses, especially nonprofits, grow and succeed. I hope to learn more about marketing, sales, and customer relations, and this group offers a great way to gain hands-on experience.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Terrapin Turtle
Gabriella
Role: Retail/Marketing/Development Intern
Where do you/did you attend school? UNC-Chapel Hill
Fun Facts: I studied abroad in Italy and I can juggle
Hobbies: Tennis, biking, exploring
Why did you choose your team? I wanted to apply my business and environmental education in a nonprofit setting. I strongly align with the Conservancy’s mission, and this opportunity has allowed me to contribute meaningfully to its work.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Pelican
Lilly
Role: Retail/Marketing/Development Intern
Where are you from? Wake Forest, NC
Where do you/did you attend school? I attend Liberty University, majoring in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Business Administration.
Fun Facts: I own a pop-up shop called LA Thrift, and I originally started as a Wildlife Biology major!
Hobbies: I love everything creative, music-related, outdoorsy, and adventurous. Some of my hobbies include hiking, biking, singing, playing guitar, journaling, and drawing.
Why did you choose your team? The Retail and Business Development Internship provides an opportunity to gain meaningful experience within a nonprofit environment. It allows me to apply my background in fashion and business to support the Conservancy’s mission of discovering, learning about, and protecting wildlife.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Painted Bunting
Loch
Role: Retail/Marketing/Development Intern
Where are you from? Fort Mill, SC
Where do you/did you attend school? I attend Coastal Carolina University and major in Economics.
Fun Facts: I drive a stick shift and have been playing volleyball for over half my life.
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy walking around Bald Head Island, spending time on the beach, and doing activities with the other interns.
Why did you choose your team? I wanted to help spark curiosity about the Bald Head Island Conservancy and educate more people on our mission and everything we offer. I was also interested in gaining a better understanding of the behind-the-scenes business operations. It’s such a privilege to be a part of an amazing nonprofit organization like the Bald Head Island Conservancy.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Sea Turtles
LJ
Role: Conservation Intern
Where are you from? Earlysville, Virginia
Where do you/did you attend school? University of North Carolina Wilmington
Major: Marine Biology
Minor: Geology
Concentration: Conservation Science
Fun Facts: I have double-jointed hands. I have a good duck impression.
Hobbies: Hiking, surfing, beach volleyball, nature walks, shark tooth hunting, paddleboarding
Why did you choose your team? To get to learn and explore the science behind BHI’s terrestrial and aquatic organisms and how the island ecosystem functions and coexists
Favorite Animal on BHI: Anole lizard
Gracie
Role: Conservation Intern
Where are you from? Charlottesville, VA
Where do you/did you attend school? NC State – Environmental Science major (Freshwater Ecology focal area)
Fun Facts: I love to hike and backpack and even used to lead a hiking club! Growing up, my mom and I fostered over 50 puppies from the SPCA.
Hobbies: I’m learning banjo and I love to bike!
Why did you choose your team? I was particularly attracted to the water quality work that BHIC does, but I also love how many different projects I get to work on with the conservation team. I’ll be out till midnight patrolling for alligators and then up the next morning monitoring shorebirds before spending the rest of the day across the island collecting water samples that I later process in the lab.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Great Blue Heron
Olivia
Role: Education Technician
Where are you from? Western NC
Where do you/did you attend school? UNC Chapel Hill, graduated in May 2023 (Go Heels!)
Fun Facts: Just finished an AmeriCorps position in Nevada, living in the desert for a year! My favorite color is burnt orange.
Hobbies: I love to knit and do needlepoint. I’m working on a striped sweater and an Old Baldy canvas right now! Recently got into Stephen King books and am working my way through his collection.
Why did you choose your team? I love helping people discover nature and connect with their environment!
Favorite Animal on BHI: Oystercatchers!
Emma
Role: Sea Turtle Technician
Where are you from? Cary, NC
Where do you/did you attend school? UNCW with a B.S. in oceanography, minoring in marine biology and dance
Fun Facts: I taught cardio dance classes in college, and I was an extra in the TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty!
Hobbies: I love biking, reading on the beach, swimming, and traveling.
Why did you choose your team? I am very passionate about sea turtle conservation and the research we do here allows for a better understanding of these incredible species.
Favorite Animal on BHI: Loggerhead
Lauren
Role: Conservation Technician
Where are you from? Blacksburg, Virginia
Where do you/did you attend school? Graduated from Davidson College, B.S. in Biology
Fun Facts: I was a conservation intern last summer! I worked as a stage technician and carpenter during college.
Hobbies: Hiking, making art, and spotting frogs
Why did you choose your team? I love learning and collecting data about ecosystems and working to protect them!
Favorite Animal on BHI: American Alligator
