From Trail to Trust with Florencia Loncan

Fresh off an epic 2,200-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, Florencia Loncán began applying for her first post-grad job in spring 2025. She landed at the Triangle Land Conservancy, in a position she feels was made for her, where she could connect with the local community and get out into the field.Florencia is a double Tar Heel, having earned an undergraduate degree in environmental science and a master’s degree from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.For her, conservation runs deep. As a graduate student, she discovered her love for Great Smokey Mountains National Park, where she spent a summer working for Discover Life America. When summer came to a close she did not want to leave. Lucky for her, she found a way back the following spring, when she completed her master’s thesis project in the Park.The sum of these experiences makes our conversation with Florencia a dynamic one. Sometimes it’s hard to believe she’s just three years removed from graduate school.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.