Biography
Horse Shoe, North Carolina
B.A. Environmental and Sustainability Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2016-2019
Why did you choose to pursue this degree, and why did you choose Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to pursue this degree?
I was drawn to this degree because its approach to analyzing complex conservation issues is unlike that of any other program I’ve seen. It was my hope to join a program that recognized the enduring interconnectedness of wildlife, humans, and ecology when addressing conservation issues. Conservation Medicine does exactly that. As someone who is passionate about environmental ethics, it was very important to me to pursue a well-rounded degree that includes people in conversations about conservation.
What are your interests and/or experience relative to your program?
Much of my experience consists of my involvement in environmental justice and humanities projects during my time as an undergraduate. Post-graduation, I have participated in research on rainforest regeneration and gained experience in data collection and leading my own research project in an effort to document the forest’s biodiversity. In the last year, I have found a new passion for wildlife rehabilitation during my time spent volunteering with a raptor and songbird rehabilitation center.
What are your career goals after completing the program?
My goal is ultimately to do work that matters to me, my community, and my planet. I really enjoy working with both children and wildlife, so I’m interested in a career in education. The connections that I made with wildlife as a child made a lifelong impact on me, and I would be honored to facilitate those connections with my community. It would also be extremely fulfilling to contribute research to the field of conservation or wildlife rehabilitation. Right now, my interests are broad, but I have no doubt that this program will help prepare me for any field I choose to pursue.