Shane Brill '03 M'11

Education

• FNTP, Nutritional Therapy Association, 2021
• MA, Washington College, 2011
• BA, Washington College, 2003

Professional Work

In the role of Lifelong Learning and Communications Coordinator, Shane Brill ’03 M’11 brings expertise in the intersection between food, health, and environment to celebrate Washington College’s role in the cultivation of vibrant human beings. As a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, he teaches classes and workshops for the campus community and manages the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning, channeling a background in education and ecological programming. He supports programs to bridge institutional values that connect current students with alumni and community members.

Shane is the permaculture educator at Washington College. He can often be found digging in the campus garden and leading workshops and talks on fermentation, foraging, ecological design, and food literacy. He advises internships and projects conducted by students relating to environmental literature and film, ethnobotany, food justice, composting, and horticulture.

At Washington College, Shane guides campus sustainability efforts and promotes individual and institutional practices relating to regenerative living. He connects health and nutrition, waste reduction, energy conservation, fiscal responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and food literacy and access. He supports environmental initiatives in Chestertown and manages an urban homestead as a wildlife sanctuary with a variety of edible and medicinal plants.

Talks and Workshops 

• Beekeeping: Colony Installation, Hive Maintenance, Honey Extraction, Swarm Capture
• Brain Food for Kids: Enhancing the Gut-Brain Connection to Support Mood, Learning, and Attention
• Enhance Sleep and Metabolism
• Fermentation Fundamentals
• Foods and Lifestyle to Prevent Chronic Disease
• Landscaping with Edible Native Plants
• Natural Pest Prevention: Ecological Tactics for Healthy Landscapes
• Optimize Your Health
• Permaculture 101
• Rediscovering Food
• Seasonal Foraging
• Sustainable Human Energy
• Urban Homesteading
• Wild, Fermented, and Traditional Foods
• Wild Foods in Native and Novel Ecosystems
• Zero Waste Community Visioning 

Selected Publications

• “Wild May,” Washington College Magazine (Summer 2018).
• “Sophie, We Hardly Knew Ye,” Washington College Magazine (Spring 2017).
• “Urban Homesteader,” Washington College Magazine (Spring 2014).

In the News

• "How to Harvest Black Walnuts," Home & Gardens Magazine (10/15/25)  
• "9 Best Flowers to Plant This Fall, Gardeners Say, " Best Life Online (7/31/24)
• "Vogel's Return to Roots, Growing Lucky Pick Farm," Kent County News (7/25/24)
• "How to Grow Bamboo from Cuttings in Water," Home & Gardens Magazine (7/14/24)
• "Get the Nitrogen-Carbon Ratio Right," Home & Gardens Magazine (7/14/24)
• "Garden potluck unites residents and students in environmental efforts," Kent County News (5/2/24)
• "'Surrender to the Wild' shares author," Kent County News (5/2/24)
• "Community gardens grow food and friendship" Food Drink Life (4/8/24)
• "Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning Expanding to Summer" Chestertown Spy (5/15/23)
• "Indigenous Peoples' Perspective Project" Attraction Magazine (10/1/22). 
• "Let It Rain" Chesapeake Bay Magazine (9/8/22).
• “Food Connection” Shore Magazine (7/1/21).
• “'We Love This Place' panel series concludes with conversation on environmental stewardship” The Elm (12/23/20).
• “Galena resident promotes sustainable community” Kent County News (7/23/20).
• “Learning to Return to Our Food Roots” Shore Home and Garden Magazine (10/01/18).
• “Washington College is Maryland’s First Bee Campus USA,” Chestertown Spy (4/10/18).
• “Medieval Dinner Coming to WC, May Day Tradition” The Elm (2/22/18).
• “What are weeds to some, it seems, can be food for others,” Kent County News (9/9/17).