Dina M. Leech, Ph.D.Dr. Leech is an Associate Professor of Biology in Longwood’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Research Manager for the Baliles Center for Environmental Education at Hull Springs. She is a native of Virginia and attended James Madison University, where she received a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Lehigh University in 2001 and then went on to do postdoctoral work at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Leech has 20+ years of experience working in lakes, rivers, and estuaries and is a fellow of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography. Her research focuses on how human-induced environmental change affects water quality, biodiversity, and food web dynamics. Even in her free time, Dr. Leech enjoys being out on the water with her family.
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Grace SmithGrace is a sophomore at Longwood, majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Life Sciences. However, water resources are also a big interest. She is a member of Women in STEM and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for Virginia’s waterways. In the Leech Lab, she is assisting with water quality monitoring of the tributaries at the Baliles Center at Hull Springs. In the future, she wants to become more invested in marine biology and water quality management. After graduation, she is planning to attend graduate school to obtain her Masters in Marine Biology.
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Danielle Clarke-Bradley
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Danielle is a junior at Longwood University, majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Earth Science, and a minor in GIS. She is a member of the honors fraternity, Epsilon Eta; the national service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega; and is a student supervisor at Dorrill Dining hall. From a young age, Danielle has always held an interest in the natural sciences and participating in the Virginia State Park’s Youth Conservation Corps in 2018 led to her pursuing a degree in Environmental Science. Danielle has interests in natural resource management (soil and water), environmental restoration, wetland ecology, and GIS. In the leech lab, Danielle is assisting with water quality monitoring at the Baliles Center.
Danielle’s Site |
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Abigail SommerAbigail is a sophomore at Longwood, majoring in Biology. Her interests in fish and general enjoyment of 'being outside in nature' attracted her to Leech Lab. This is her first semester, so she is focused on learning various field and laboratory techniques, especially those associated with water quality monitoring at the Baliles Center at Hull Springs. Abigail has also been selected for Longwood's competitive summer research program, PRISM. Working with Dr. Leech, she will investigate sensory responses in larval fish to freshwater browning, or the darkening of fresh waters due to increased inputs of dissolved organic matter.
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Former Longwood Undergraduate Researchers:
Kelsey English ('22) |
Research Scientist, Omega Protein, Inc. |
Kirsten Bauer ('21) |
Fisheries Research Technician, Mississippi State University, Marine Fisheries Ecology Lab Postbac and Conservation Scholar, Duke Marine Lab |
Tessa DeWalt ('20) |
Master's Program, Public Health, Virginia Commonwealth University |
Troy Clift ('19) |
Research Scientist, Montana Department of Environmental Quality Master's Program, Paleolimnology, Auburn University |
Aryana DiPippa ('20) |
Science Teacher, Eastern View High School, Culpepper, Virginia |
Caitlynn Dove ('18) |
Environmental Microbiologist, Virginia Department of Health |
Katherine 'Kat' Plucinski ('18) |
Master's Program, Science Education, Virginia Commonwealth University |
Jacob Spain ('16) |
Wildlife Biologist Assistant/Biological Technician, Environmental Research Group |
Nick Ravagli ('15) |
Master's Program, Education, Radford University |
Jessica Littlefield ('15) |
Veterinary Assistant, Windsor Pet Hospital, Windsor, Virginia |