Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute

05/22/2024

The deadline to submit applications for the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) is fast approaching! VNRLI is a professional development program for leaders confronted with Virginia’s most pressing natural resource issues who seek new skills in conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving. Over 9 months, Fellows will explore a variety of leadership models, equitable collaboration, facilitation skills, environmental justice, and more!

The application and more information can also be found on the VNRLI website. Financial assistance is available! Applications should be submitted via email to Alexandra Cook at [email protected] by Friday, June 7th.

Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort are now OPEN! Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort can be found here. Recommendations forms are embedded in the application and also available here. Please complete and send to Alexandra Cook at [email protected] by June 7, 2024. What is the Virginia Natural....

03/12/2024

Last week, VNRLI Fellows met at Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg for Session 4 of the program. At the session, Fellows participated in a mock negotiation modeled around the coal ash spill in the Dan River basin. The group also had the pleasure of touring Cub Run Dairy with farmer owners, Gerald and Anita Heatwole, in McGaheysville. Here, attendees learned about the ins and outs of a mid-size dairy farm operation in the heartland of Virginia agriculture, and what efforts are being made to mitigate environmental impacts on the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. If you know someone interested in applying to VNRLI for 2024-2025, stay tuned in the coming weeks as applications will be shared later in March!

11/21/2023

The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute is grateful to all of the alumni, partners, fellows, and faculty that continue to shape and support this program in a meaningful way. We are also thankful for the land, water, wildlife, and resources that make up the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing a beautiful home for us all. On behalf of the VNRLI team, we would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

*This photo was taken at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach earlier this month during Session 2 of the program.

09/25/2023

Last week, the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) gathered in Amherst County for Session 1 of the program at Sweetbriar College’s Elston Conference Center. This year’s cohort includes professionals working around the Commonwealth in a variety of natural resources related industries. The session focused on a variety of topics including, active listening, conflict, environmental justice, teambuilding, and personal leadership strategies. VNRLI also had the pleasure of hosting Chief Diane Shields, leader of the Monacan Indian Nation. Chief Shields spoke with the group about Monacan history, as well as issues the tribe currently faces in collaboration and how they have moved through conflict over the years. We look forward to what the coming year has in store for the class of 2024!

For more information about VNRLI, please visit the website at: https://vnrli.ien.virginia.edu.

07/06/2023

We finished the year strong with the VNRLI Class of 2023 last month! Session 6 was held in Charlottesville where we took a trip to the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA, Monticello, and had a wonderful closing ceremony at the Hillsdale Conference Center. We also explored several topics including the Open Space Process, Women in Leadership, and Mindfulness.

In addition to celebrating the newest group of VNRLI alumni, we were pleased to honor Adam Downing as the 2023 Recipient of the Gerald P. McCarthy Award for Leadership in Environmental Conflict Resolution.

We are looking forward to meeting next year's class and having them join the wonderful 600+ individuals comprising our alumni network!

05/30/2023

We are nearing the deadline to apply to the 2023-2024 cohort of the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute! Applications should be submitted via email to Alexandra Cook ([email protected]) by 11:59p this Friday, June 2nd. The application and more details about the program can be found on the VNRLI website (click below).

Financial assistance is available, and more information is listed in the application.

The application for the 2023-2024 program is now open! Completed applications, including one recommendation, are due by June 2, 2023, and can be emailed to [email protected] or mail to VNRLI at PO Box 400179 Charlottesville, VA 22904. Click on the following links to access the application, as well...

05/10/2023

Hello VNRLI Alumni and Happy Thursday!

We hope to see you today, May 10th, on Zoom for the May Lunch Bites Series at 12:10-1:00pm. In today's session we will hear from Lynn Crump (VNRLI c/o 2006), and her team at Scenic Virginia who will be discussing the Collaboration for Community Engagement to identify Treasured Views, part of our Viewshed Project. This will be the last installment of the season, but we look forward to continuing this pilot series in the Fall!

Check your inbox for the link to join.

05/05/2023

The deadline to submit applications for next year's VNRLI cohort is quickly approaching on June 2nd! If you know someone interested in applying to next year’s cohort, please encourage them to apply.

The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) is is a unique professional development opportunity that builds competencies in natural resource issues, collaborative problem solving, and leadership. Over the course of six three-day sessions utilizing a proven mix of mini-lectures, experiential role plays, exercises, stakeholder panel discussions, tools for virtual engagement, peer and faculty mentoring, and field trips.

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to cover the program fee, as well as mileage (for travel to and from sessions) and lodging for recipients. Candidates from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. You can find more information about applying for a scholarship on the application and on our website.

For additional information and to download the application please visit our website, linked below. Applications are due June 2nd to Alexandra Cook at [email protected].

The application for the 2023-2024 program is now open! Completed applications, including one recommendation, are due by June 2, 2023, and can be emailed to [email protected] or mail to VNRLI at PO Box 400179 Charlottesville, VA 22904. Click on the following links to access the application, as well...

04/11/2023

Hello VNRLI Alumni!

We hope to see you tomorrow, April 12th on Zoom for the April Lunch Bites Series at 12:10-1:00pm. The panel for tomorrow’s session will discuss “Biomass and Virginia Wood Production.” Sabina Dhungana (DOF), Mike Davis (NOVEC), and Corey Connors (Virginia Forestry Association) will be speaking on the panel moderated by Justin Barnes (DOF and VNRLI Faculty).

Check your inbox for the link to join!

If you need to update your VNRLI contact or did not receive the link, you can submit a request to our Alumni contact form, linked below:

July 22, 2015 -- clh3x First Name: * Last Name: * Year Graduated: * Address State/Province Zip Code Country Email Address: * Additional Information You Would Like Us To Have Leave this field blank CAPTCHAThis question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spa...

03/27/2023

Looking forward to Environment Virginia this week to connect with other professionals in the natural resources field as well as our VNRLI alumni! We will have a booth, so come say hi and ask us about VNRLI if you are new to the program. For alumni, we will also be posted up with VNRLI alumni stickers for you to add to your name badge, so you can easily identify and connect with one another. See you there!

Interested in joining next year's cohort? We are pleased to announce that the 2023-2024 Application for the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute is now open! If you know of any great candidates or organizations who should be part of next year's program, we would be grateful if you would consider sending them this information or sharing with them about your experience. Applications are due June 2nd, and scholarship assistance is available. Visit our website for more information, and to view the application.

The application for the 2023-2024 program is now open! Completed applications, including one recommendation, are due by June 2, 2023, and can be emailed to [email protected] or mail to VNRLI at PO Box 400179 Charlottesville, VA 22904. Click on the following links to access the application, as well...

01/25/2023

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for doing great or innovative work in conflict resolution and collaboration on environmental issues? We want to know!

The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute is now accepting nominations for the 2023 McCarthy Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has taken a leadership role in preserving and protecting Virginia's environment by fostering collaboration and conflict resolution.

Please help us recognize and celebrate those who are fostering, encouraging, and initiating great collaborative work by submitting a nomination. It is not hard and doesn’t take long. Help make someone’s day by nominating them for this award!

Nominations forms for the 2023 award are due by Monday, March 6th and should be submitted to Alexandra Cook at [email protected]. The award will be presented at the VNRLI Graduation on June 8th, 2023, in Charlottesville. You can find the nomination form and learn more about the award here.

Questions about the award can be directed to Alexandra Cook at [email protected].