| by Mark C. Anderson

News Stories

Pshonyak, Nadia
Nadia Pshonyak IPD/IT ’25 visited 25 parks over the summer to identify barriers to access and map resources. Her favorite public space is Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove. “I go every weekend, walking along the Rec Trail,” she says. “I love that whole system.” 

Imagine a doctor writing you a prescription for…nature.

That’s exactly the idea behind ParkRx, a 10-year-old initiative that recently came to Monterey and got a boost this summer from an energetic team of Middlebury students.

“To have the opportunity to learn about all these incredible organizations, on the ground, while being a part of community-based research, and visiting parks—it’s pretty awesome,” says Tanja Roos, the former community program manager for the Blue Zones Project, which is driving the program.

Every summer, Middlebury Social Impact Corps connects Middlebury person-power—graduate and undergraduate students and faculty—with a different community organization taking on a worthy cause.

The group this summer visited over 25 parks—mostly via public transit—to evaluate features like trails, picnic tables, ADA infrastructure, and accessibility. They also interviewed residents in English and Spanish around the Monterey Peninsula and in nearby Salinas to identify obstacles to enjoying the area’s local spaces. Their data will help grow ParksRx, through which doctors will issue park prescriptions and refer people to the resource site.

Middlebury College student Tony Morocho ‘26 (economics, art history) had such a blast that he’s considering spending another semester at MIIS through Study Away in Monterey, which is open to undergraduates from any school across the country and offers experiential-based opportunities and the chance to get a taste of graduate school.

“To be honest, it’s been remarkable, and very unique,” he says. “I grew up on the East Side of New York City and had never been on a hike before this.”

Students Did an Instagram Takeover to Share a Week in Monterey

A Fresh View into the Local Health Ecosystem

The program was also a perfect match for Nadia Pshonyak’s personal values and career path, across multiple dimensions. Pshonyak served as the Corps “scholar,” coordinating the team of three Middlebury College students in everything from partner collaboration to media outreach.

“This project gives me a glimpse into the policy and development side, on a local level, showing me the great impact that local community organizations have on their populations,” says Pshonyak, who is completing a joint master’s in international policy and development and international trade. “Additionally, getting to work with a diverse population on an important topic is preparing me to work with lots of different people on a bigger stage in the future.”

This project gives me a glimpse into the policy and development side, on a local level, showing me the great impact that local community organizations have on their populations.
— Nadia Pshonyak IPD/IT ‘25

“Blue Zones definitely seemed like a cool thing to get involved in,” she says. “I also love living in beautiful Monterey and want more people to know about the natural beauty around us.”

The Blue Zones Project is inspired by the places in the world (“blue zones”) where local habits lead to a decade more in lifespan—and seeks, at its core, to “make the healthy choice easy,” whether that’s in workplace design, fresh food access, or outdoor opportunities.

“It’s prescribing nature—and expanding access to nature,” Pshonyak says. “It’s out there, it’s not very far, and it’s great for your mental and physical well-being.”

Pshonyak, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching in North Macedonia and is the current president of the MIIS Peace Corps Club, loved the chance to connect with multiple local organizations. ParkRx involves Ventana Wildlife Society, Monterey County Parks, Big Sur Land Trust, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, and the Monterey County Health Department.

Her cohort inspired the Monterey County Now news piece, “A program that prescribes park visits for better health gets a booster shot.”

From Vermont to California—Connecting across Middlebury

Middlebury Social Impact Corps launched in 2018 and is housed at the Elizabeth Hackett Robinson ‘84 Innovation Hub at Middlebury College. The initiative is funded by the Davis Collaborative in Conflict Transformation. Participants have free housing in the residence hall and are compensated for their work.

“It’s truly a Middlebury program, since the cohort draws students from both California and Vermont campuses,” says the program’s faculty director, Dr. Netta Avineri, who cofacilitates the program with Innovation Hub Associate Director Dana Anderson. “It’s so interesting to see what they have in common and discover together, in addition to what we wouldn’t have been able to predict in advance.”