America Walks is pleased to introduce the 2025 National Walking College fellowship class. In its tenth year, the National Walking College is a competitive, six-month remote-learning fellowship that has to-date graduated more than 220 fellows from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The National Walking College is generously funded by the Centers for Disease Control through the Active People, Healthy Nation initiative, which has a goal of helping 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027.
This year, we are proud to welcome 24 impressive fellows. Learn more about them below.
2025 Fellows
Liv Hawkins
Spartanburg, SC
- Recently graduated with a master’s in education
- Member of the city’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee and Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful board
- Author of the blog The Walking Spartan
- For master’s research project, studied transportation habits and needs of students from Spartanburg County’s seven colleges and universities
- Is interested in how to get local college students more engaged in active transportation planning and policy
Danielle King
Olympia, WA
- Program director of Safe Kids Thursday County
- Led the Environmental Task Force that secured two Safe Routes to School grants totaling $2 million, resulting in critical infrastructure improvements in local elementary school zones
- Pioneered the county’s first permanent traffic garden with local partners and has since spearheaded six more
- Assisted in the State of Washington’s implementation guide for pop-up and permanent traffic gardens
- Created the Great Olympia Bike Rodeo and introduced the region’s first “Sense of Place” installation to enhance community-connected spaces
Susan Dingle
Bismarck, ND
- Avid pedestrian and public transit user
- Loves murder mysteries, local and state history, historic preservation, and Toastmasters
- Active in city public transportation and active transportation planning circles
- Bachelor’s degrees in American civilization and library science
- Retired librarian
Carissa Finnerty
Grand Junction, CO
- AmeriCorps member
- Currently serving as City of Grand Junction’s Sustainable Transportation Outreach Specialist
- Eager to expand on skills and tools to help improve walkability and livability for all
Becky Tremonte
Gilbert, AZ
- Tribal Relations Coordinator and grant writer at Cross Timbers Consulting with 15 years of experience working with American Indian/Alaska Native communities in transportation and education sectors
- Has prepared more than 20 funded grant and agreement awards, garnering over $70 million for Tribal transportation programs
- Master of Business Administration and holds degrees in journalism and mass communications
- Avid runner
Hailey Wall
Salt Lake City, UT
- Bachelor of landscape architecture with a minor in sustainable systems from Utah State University
- Undergraduate research focused on green infrastructure and sustainable urban development
- Time living in Germany deepened passion for walkable communities and sparked a lifelong commitment to advancing access and environmental responsibility through design
- Brings a multidisciplinary lens to her work, integrating principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to create public spaces that are not only vibrant and welcoming but also safe and resilient.
- Believes walkable environments are key to fostering communities that are healthy, connected, and fair to all
Ayanna Moore
Wilmington, DE
- Livable Communities Coordinator for the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP) in the Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- Supports the implementation of activating green spaces, expanding access to drinking water, and improving neighborhood built environments
- Board member for a small, community-led land and food sovereignty nonprofit organization in a predominately Black working class neighborhood in the Haddington section of Philadelphia called Neighborhood Land Power Project, formally Urban Tree Connection
- Third-generation Philadelphia native
- Co-leader of We Walk PHL program, a partnership of the Philadelphia Health Department, Fairmount Park Conservancy, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, which offers free public health and wellness programming
- Started taking public transit to middle school alone at the age of 11
- Former K–12 visual arts teacher
- Enjoys taking walks with two teenage sons
- Undergraduate degree in studio art (2004) from Temple University, M.A. in art education (2010) from Goddard University, and MS in organizational leadership (2015) from Wilmington University
Sabrina Smith
Greenville, SC
- Active Living Director for LiveWell Greenville, a coalition dedicated to increasing access to healthy food and active living opportunities
- Leads initiatives that expand access to safe, connected spaces for physical activity and active transportation
- Current projects include Safe Routes to School, Open Community Use, the Upstate Park Hop program, and neighborhood connectivity efforts
- Master of Public Health degree from the University of South Carolina
- Over 15 years of experience advancing healthy eating and active living strategies across public and private sectors
Brad Averill
Athens, GA
- Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Athens-Clarke County for the University of Georgia (UGA)
- Plan of work at UGA includes chronic disease prevention management through improved nutrition and physical activity practices, and reducing the risk of foodborne illness through ServSafe Food Manager Certification.
- Has completed 645 programs for almost 14,000 people across the country
- Member of the board of directors for Firefly Trail, Inc. The Firefly Trail is a planned, 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point in Northeast Georgia that connects Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe, and Greene Counties
Ally Hughes
Nelsonville, OH
- Became disabled at seven years old and is married to someone who is also disabled
- Joined the Athens, Ohio Disabilities Commission and became involved in strategic disability advocacy in Appalachian Ohio
- Inspired by regional struggles with accessible streets, sidewalks, and curb cuts, joined the Disabilities Commission’s Accessibility and Advocacy Committee, and now serves as co-chair
- Health psychologist and self-described “research nerd” who studies diabetes and disabilities
- Assistant professor at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Aaron Johnson
Salt Lake City, UT
- Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in urban ecology and a masters degree in landscape architecture from the University of Arizona
- Believes that well-executed design principles and strategies provide a critical connection between humans and the natural world around us
- Has worked with and served on a variety of local non-profits and community committees
- Experience designing large-scale, master-planned communities; neighborhood crafting; community and regional parks; urban design; and plazas
- Interested in improving quality of life by creating resilient, ecologically-sensitive, and safe spaces for people
Cate Kreider
Atlanta, GA
- Safety education program specialist for the statewide active transportation organization Go Georgia
- Loves biking and finds a long walk more pleasant than a short drive
- Believes that access to safe walking routes is an essential piece in many puzzles related to public health, global sustainability, and mobility
- Excited to learn more about empowering communities to embrace and support walking as a primary form of transportation and recreation
Shannon Wise
Philadelphia, PA
- Chronic Disease Program and Policy Specialist for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention
- Passionate about working to improve the health and wellness of Philadelphia’s children and families
- Work focuses on improving built environments to support physical activity and health justice, and supporting the communities and partnerships that are a part of this work
- Helps manage We Walk PHL in partnership with Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and directly coordinated the pilot expansion of We Walk PHL to recreation centers in Fall 2024
- Graduated from Arcadia University in 2009
- Prior to joining PDPH, served as director of Early Childhood Education at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Stefanie Dalton
Red Bank, TN
- Born in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia; after decades of living all over the Southeast U.S., overseas in Germany, and in Arizona, landed back in Appalachia almost 18 years ago
- Elected to the Red Bank City Commission in 2020, won re-election in November 2024, and now serves as mayor
- Has a bachelor’s degree in English from East Tennessee State University and a master’s in social work from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- Nearly 20 years of experience working in the justice system, healthcare, mental health, and championing community concerns
- Pleased that Red Bank recently completed its first-ever comprehensive plan, community mobility plan, and right-size study of its singular arterial stroad in the city’s 70-year history
- Hopes to learn how to identify and implement short-term, mid-term, and long-term steps toward a city that is safely walkable, rollable, and movable for all
Shaunna Graf
Floyds Knob, IN
- Development and project management professional
- Over 20 years experience in operations, grant managements, and sustainable partnerships
- Southern Indiana native
- Involved in the Ohio River Greenway project, a transformative initiative enhancing connectivity along the riverfront
- Background in communications and journalism from Oglethorpe University
- Avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, biking, and supporting local soccer teams
- Passionate about walkability initiatives that promote access and quality of life for all
Grant Hardy
Salt Lake City, UT
- Project manager and landscape designer
- Has designed, managed, and installed projects including public parks, trails, watercourse systems, and private development projects ranging from 200-acre to more than 3,000-acre communities
- Has facilitated high-level planning graphics, 3D models, and VR review processes to facilitate public engagement and team coordination for a wide range of projects
Michael Moore
Stamford, CT
- President of Stamford Downtown Special Services District, the largest business improvement district in Connecticut
- Stamford Downtown works to position Stamford’s city center as a welcome setting for residents, visitors, and investors through public realm beautification, placemaking, business development, event production, and marketing
- Previously worked in Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, and as the first president/CEO of the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District
- Proud alum of University of Connecticut (BA 199, MPA 1999) and Fairfield University (MBA 2009)
Bonnie Mulkey
Williamsburg, VA
- Longtime recreational pedestrian
- Eyes opened to the needs of active transportation users by leading BikeWalk Williamsburg as its first executive director
- Looking forward to gaining new technical skills through the program and expanding the impact of BikeWalk Williamsburg
Deborah Lenceski
Williamsburg, VA
- Civil engineer
- Wants to normalize and encourage more walking
- Has promoted the development of sidewalks and crosswalks
- Spent childhood in neighborhoods where walking was routine and most walked or biked to school
Shannon Cole
Greenville, SC
- Grants manager at LiveWell Greenville
- Focused on REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) cooperative agreement, a large federal grant
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in health and exercise sciences from Furman University
- Enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time outdoors.
- Happily married and has two wonderful daughters and two dogs
Tara Flaharty
Grand Junction, CO
- Mesa County Mobility Manager
- Promotes active and public transportation options for seniors, people with disabilities, and lower income individuals throughout the region
- Works closely with local livability commissions, chambers of commerce, non-profits, government agencies, and in various workgroups to support access and mobility
- A bike commuter, children’s mountain bike instructor, and League of American Cyclists certified cycling instructor
- Eager to expand knowledge and insights to include more pedestrian awareness and make meaningful improvements and changes within the community
- Previously worked as a ranch manager for a guest ranch in Northern Wyoming where there were more horseback options than biking or walking options
Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin
Stamford, CT
- Member of People Friendly Stamford (PFS), a local community group made up of residents all across Stamford
- On a mission to create walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, improve transit, reduce car-dependency, and support housing abundance
- Particularly concerned about pedestrian and bike safety and the impact of large thoroughfares and heavy vehicular traffic in the Stamford area, which was ranked the 17th most congested area in the country in 2024
- Looks forward to learning more about human-centered design, urban planning, traffic engineering, and community engagement
- Enjoys exploring urban environments on foot and by bicycle, building community by facilitating meaningful connections, and dabbling in the arts
Marisa Rogo
Stamford, CT
- Director of Data Analytics and Visualization at Stamford Downtown Special Services District
- Leverages innovative strategies to enhance the public realm
- Background in the arts
- Blends creative expertise with strong analytical skills to transform data into engaging visuals and insightful market reports
- Serves on the Western Regional Advisory Council for the Women’s Business Development Council
- Has contributed to the Stamford Veteran Park Partnership’s Ad-Hoc Committee and the Stamford Art Association
- Master of Professional Studies in arts and cultural management from Pratt Institute
Daniel Garcia
Olympia, WA
- Legislative analyst
- Vice Chair on the Olympia Planning Commission
- Board member for Capitol Land Trust, supporting strategic conservation efforts
- Master of Public Administration capstone project focused on the challenges and opportunities of downtown Olympia, exploring strategies for sustainable urban development and community engagement
- Committed to serving the Olympia community and advancing policies that promote smart growth
