Megan Beever, an environmental and water resources doctoral student in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been selected as the 2026 Sea Grant Chesapeake Bay Commission Fellow.

The fellowship, jointly administered by Virginia Sea Grant, Maryland Sea Grant, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, places graduate students at the intersection of science and policy to support the restoration and stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

Selected through a highly competitive national process, Beever was chosen based on her academic achievements, professional experience, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing science-based policy. This year's competition attracted more than two dozen applicants from across the country, with finalists participating in interviews with Chesapeake Bay Commission leadership.

As this year’s Fellow, Beever will spend a year working with the Chesapeake Bay Commission in Annapolis, Maryland. In this role, she will support regional policy initiatives and collaborate with legislative leaders, state and federal agencies, and partners throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

The fellowship provides a unique opportunity to apply scientific expertise to policy development while gaining firsthand experience in regional environmental decision-making.

Beever's research and professional interests focus on coastal and water resources issues, making the fellowship a natural extension of her commitment to addressing environmental challenges through both scientific inquiry and public service.

A Via Scholar in the department, Beever earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech. The fellowship will further support her professional development while allowing her to contribute to efforts that advance the long-term health and resilience of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.