Dr. Amber Wendler

IGC FELLOW GRADUATE    |   Global Change Center

VT GRADUATE May 2025  •   Biological Sciences  

Advisors: Dr. Ignacio Moore, Dr. Jeff Walters

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Dr. Amber Wendler successfully defended her doctoral dissertation in May 2025. She is now an Environmental Specialist for the City of Roanoke where she supports local efforts to protect water resources, build flood resilience, and engage the public in environmental stewardship. She also serves on the Advisory Council for POWHR (Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights), advancing watershed protection and clean energy efforts in Appalachia.

While at Virginia Tech, Amber's doctoral research examined how climate and environmental changes affect bird populations in Puerto Rico, providing insights into how species may respond to future changes. Beyond her research, she collaborated on science communication and storytelling initiatives through the Virginia Tech Center for Communicating Science and Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia, exploring new ways to connect research, stories, and communities. She is also co-editor of the award-winning book Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature.

As an Interfaces of Global Change Fellow, Amber worked across disciplines and engaged with scholars tackling complex environmental and social challenges. The program strengthened her appreciation for collaborative, community-engaged approaches to navigating global change.

Amber’s work brings together conservation, climate resilience, science communication, and community engagement. She is committed to expanding access to science and the outdoors while advancing equity in climate and environmental action.

Last updated August 2026.

In the News

VT Grad Student Co-Organizes Black Birders Week (VT News 2020)
Fellow Spotlight: Amber Wendler (GCC News 2021)
From Capstone Project to Published Paper (GCC News 2025)