Mervin Davis
Community Leadership Council Intern

Mervin is an international student from the Bahama Islands, and attends Shaw University's School of Education where he is studying to achieve a Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction (Early Education). Mervin acquired prior environmental work experience through fourteen years of service with the National Environmental Health Services of the Bahamas where he held positions of Health Officer and Personnel Officer.

Mervin has a BA in Business Administration & Human Resources. He brings a desire to serve the community and support positive changes that affect human life. He has been an activist in numerous social capacities, and this summer will be supporting Toxic Free NC's Community Leadership Council.

Alissa Hennen
Green Business Volunteer

Alissa uses her business background to help Toxic Free NC make compelling cases for important causes, such as using least toxic pest control methods (IPM) in schools and daycare centers and making safer chemical choices in producing products.

Alissa has lived in Raleigh for three years with her husband and two kids. She worked at Centerline Digital creating strategic marketing initiatives for IBM and previously managed online marketing efforts at Estee Lauder Companies. She earned her MBA from DePaul University in Chicago.

Jennifer Li
Children's Environmental Health Writing Intern

Jennifer is passionate about advocating for improved health in communities. After interning at the Museum of Life and Science last summer to promote healthy living, she is excited to build on her experience to make a difference in improving environmental health with Toxic Free NC.

Jennifer is currently a rising senior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) studying biology and management. Jennifer is a member of the Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects (COUHES), which approves all MIT research based on ethical and legal guidelines. She also leads education outreach initiatives at MIT, including science and engineering opportunities for high school students with the Society of Women Engineers.

Gina Montanez
Office Management Intern

I am excited for the opportunity to join Toxic Free NC as a volunteer. I have a strong interest in environmental pollution and am a huge supporter of educating the public to conserve, reuse, and adopt safer alternatives.

My past volunteer experience includes promoting renewable energy and mitigation of greenhouse gases. I graduated from UNCG with a Bachelors in Biology with a Chemistry minor.

Shannon O'Shea
Food Access Research Volunteer

Shannon is currently investigating the strengths, challenges and opportunities related to organic and pesticide-free food access in North Carolina communities. Shannon earned her MSPH from UNC School of Public Health in 2010, where she studied toxicology, environmental public health and environmental justice. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, dog Leo and 2 cats.

Erika Padilla-Morales

Erika Padilla-Morales is a Puerto Rican woman focused on improving the state of our communities, and drawn to food justice. She believes nutritional health is the core building block to wellness. Erika is a science student at Laney College in Oakland, CA and will transfer to a bachelor's program in Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine, or Dosimetry. Erika wants to serve on a dynamic oncology team and work with young people with cancer. She balances her studies and volunteer work with exploring the world by bicycle, reading, and dabbling into art.

Joey Shea
Public Health Writing Intern

Joey has been a nature lover as long as he can remember. As he transitions from student life into the 'real world' he hopes to work to serve the triangle community and preserve the beautiful environment of NC.

He is looking forward to applying his degree in sustainability studies with a focus on sociology to his work writing public health articles for Toxic Free NC.

Margaret Vaughn
Food Access Research Volunteer

Margaret has a strong interest in environmental health issues and, in particular, their relationship to the food that we grow, buy, and eat.

She is excited to be back in her home state of North Carolina after completing a graduate degree in public health at New York University this year.

Elizabeth Chatfield Vernier
Office Management Intern

Elizabeth has always been concerned about protecting our environment and has worked with several non-profit organizations. A freelance translator, she also volunteers her time registering voters and providing voter information during election years. Elizabeth holds a BS in Biology, BA in Spanish, and a graduate certificate in Translation.