Paige Van de Vuurst McClure, is the recipient of the 2026 College of Natural Resources and Environment Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award. A 2021 graduate of CNRE’s master’s program in Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Paige has built an extraordinary academic and professional career rooted in interdisciplinary scholarship, global engagement, and public service.

She earned her Ph.D. with distinction from Virginia Tech in 2024 through the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health program, where her research in disease ecology and biogeography addressed complex challenges at the human–wildlife interface across diverse international contexts.

Paige’s work spans multiple continents and reflects a deep commitment to applying science in service of global communities. Her research and fieldwork in Latin America, Africa, and other international settings have informed understanding of zoonotic disease dynamics, climate change impacts, and public health risk.

Since graduation, Paige has continued to expand her impact as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at George Washington University, where she teaches and mentors students on global social-ecological systems, climate change, and public health.

Equally notable is her sustained service to Virginia Tech and CNRE through continued research collaborations, graduate student support, and professional engagement. Paige’s global perspective, scholarly achievement, and commitment to service distinguish her as an outstanding recent alumna and a proud ambassador of the college.