By Abbas Nazil
A passion for the outdoors has guided Virginia Tech student Leila Christopher from her childhood experiences hiking Shenandoah National Park to a meaningful internship with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), where she put her environmental values into practice while gaining hands-on professional experience.
Christopher, a rising senior in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, joined NPCA’s strategic communications team this summer.
Her responsibilities included writing articles, designing graphics, and creating social media campaigns to engage the public on issues surrounding the protection and advocacy of U.S. national parks.
Her work also extended to crafting engagement emails that reached more than 600,000 supporters, contributing directly to NPCA’s mission of building public support for conservation.
Among her most memorable contributions was her involvement in the “Imagine America Without…” campaign, an initiative designed to encourage people to recognize the importance of national parks and to get involved in protecting them.
Christopher wrote several short features for the campaign, which were published on the NPCA’s website, marking a highlight of her internship experience.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Christopher admitted that the work initially felt intimidating.
However, she credited her supervisors and colleagues for providing constructive feedback that helped her develop new skills in translating complex environmental issues into engaging and accessible content for broader audiences.
She said the experience taught her how to balance clarity with substance in communication.
Her academic background at Virginia Tech played an important role in preparing her for this work.
She pointed to an Environmental Law course, which grounded her understanding of the regulations guiding conservation, as well as a Sustainable Biomaterials class with Professor Tom Hammett, which gave her practical project-based experience.
She also expressed gratitude for the support of her professors, who not only encouraged her interests but also assisted her with recommendation letters for opportunities like the NPCA internship.
Christopher’s experience at NPCA reinforced her long-term career aspirations in sustainability and environmental consulting.
She said she envisions herself working in a role that combines policy expertise, public engagement, and strategic communication to create tangible impacts on environmental stewardship.
She emphasized that her inspiration for this career path traces back to her early hikes in Shenandoah National Park with her family, where she developed a deep appreciation for natural landscapes.
Recalling moments such as climbing the rocky summit of Old Rag and watching waterfalls in White Oak Canyon, she said those experiences grounded her sense of purpose and highlighted the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to such natural wonders.
According to Christopher, her work at NPCA has confirmed her commitment to ensuring that conservation and public engagement go hand in hand.
She stated that her goal is to help people connect with the environment in meaningful ways while working toward sustainable solutions.
Her story reflects how academic preparation, mentorship, and personal passion can align to foster real-world impact, and how the next generation of environmental leaders is shaping the future of conservation through both policy and communication.
