Awards & Accolades

Awards

Travel Grant, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association, West Branch, Iowa, June 2011. This funded a week’s research in the Rose Wilder Lane/Laura Ingalls Wilder papers for my 2016 book Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books.

Fellow, New Waves in Marine Science Media Fellowship Program, University of Maine, May 2004.

Fellow, the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting in Rhode Island, annual weeklong workshop for journalists, 1999.

First place, Environmental Writing, New England Press Association, 2000, for a series on the Connecticut River in The New London Day.

First place, shared with colleagues for our series on Pfizer’s expansion into New London, New England Press Association, 1999.

First place, Environmental Writing, New England Press Association, 1999, for a story on eel poaching in The New London Day.

Award for Excellence in Journalism and Reporting on Conservation and Environmental Issues, The Nature Conservancy Connecticut chapter, 1996.

First place, shared with colleagues for our series reporting on diversity in southeastern Connecticut, New England Press Association, 1995.

Travel-study grant recipient, the English-Speaking Union of Philadelphia, 1983. Studied newspapers and magazines in the United Kingdom.

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts, American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania, 1981.

Attended Emory University for a year and a half before transferring to Penn.

Princeton High School, Princeton, New Jersey, 1977.

Accolades: Unsolicited Praise, the Best Kind

Reviews of my book Energy Independence:
“Those concerned or curious about energy conservation or looking to save a buck or two by changing wasteful habits should pick up this book.”
—Newsday

“Here’s a suggestion: spend the equivalent of about five gallons and educate yourself about alternative power sources and doable ways to save energy. …Woodside’s book is one investment that should pay off quickly.”
—Columbia Daily Tribune

“Woodside brings home the point that in order to make alternative energy work, we have to reduce our consumption.”
—Al Heavens, Realty Times

Performed at “Chester Voices,” a writers’ series, March 2004 and December 2006:
“Woodside read a sweet, funny, and ultimately tender memoir of her efforts, not always successful, to take her two daughters hiking in Virginia and Tennessee—or was it North Carolina?”
—Jeff Mill, Middletown Press, March 23, 2004

Speaker, Coverts seminar on dealing with the media, for forest landowners, April 2008:
“Your experience and knowledge are coupled with a great, comfortable delivery style and you really get a lot of key points and ideas out to the folks in a hurry. Their outreach efforts will be far more successful as a result, I’m sure.”
—Stephen Broderick, University of Connecticut extension forester, May 2008

Editor, Appalachia journal:
“Just a quick email to congratulate you on the writing and editing in Appalachia. I came across a copy in a coffee house on Block Island over the weekend and loved the current issue. Good writing, nice graphics, etc. I’m going to throw away all my copies of the Paris Review.”
—Jay W. Foley, Foley Industrial Engines, Worcester, Massachusetts, November 26, 2007

Tour leader, Society of Environmental Journalists:
“When we brought up the idea in the ‘central committee’ for the conference, everyone said, ‘She’d be great.’ You have a sterling reputation at SEJ.”
—Bill Kovarik, board member, Society of Environmental Journalists

Speaker, Literacy Volunteers of the Valley Shore:
“Thank you for a most interesting talk last Wednesday evening. We do appreciate your designing a talk for a group of English tutors in such a stimulating and appropriate way.
—Literacy Volunteers organizer Barrie Potter, July 17, 2006

Volunteer Service

Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode Island, chair of Advisory Board. Metcalf runs fellowships for journalists and administers the world’s largest environmental journalism prize, the Grantham Prize.

Trail maintainer, Mattabesett Trail (part of the New England National Scenic Trail), Connecticut River to Brooks Road, Middletown, Connecticut.