"My interest in the environment really blossomed in high school during a senior project I did on Baltimore's Back River," remembers Kellie Fiala. "And it made me think seriously about a career dedicated to the environment."
She chose to pursue a bachelor's degree in environmental studies at Washington College on Maryland's Eastern Shore in part for their Chesapeake Semester. To gain hands-on experience after graduation, Fiala applied for a one-year term of service with the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, which pairs young adults with Bay-area nonprofits and government agencies.
During the interview process, Fiala set her sights firmly on CBF. "I knew I wanted to be in the environmental field, and I always heard about CBF growing up," she says. To her delight, Fiala was awarded a Corps positions assisting with various restoration projects at CBF. Keen for a permanent job afterwards, Fiala was open to any opportunity at CBF and worked her way up through positions assisting at CBF's Clagett Farm, planting trees, and managing the education program at CBF headquarters in Annapolis.
"I credit my undergraduate experience in Washington College's Environmental Studies Program for providing me with the foundation to confidently bridge the gap between people and the natural world through education and restoration," says Fiala.
Today, Fiala is CBF's Maryland Oyster Restoration Coordinator. She remains passionate about her work and the Bay and sees every day as a new adventure.
Fiala's brand of dedication is not uncommon at CBF and other environmental organizations, where most are drawn by the mission. And today's similarly focused youth who see and feel the need to leave our planet a better place may also have bright futures ahead. Green jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average through 2030.
This story originally appeared in the fall 2024 edition of our Save the Bay magazine. If you or someone you know is ready to invest in a green career, check our list of Bay-area bachelor degrees beginning on page 10 of that issue.
