Q. What is the highlight of your career?
A. here are a few passions of mine. I am most passionate about habitat restoration and have participated in several projects aimed at eradicating invasive plant species. Witnessing the wildlife return to and thrive in these restored habitats is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to the Western Canada Cooperative Waterfowl Banding Program over the last several years, allowing me to work internationally with waterfowl. You can learn more about the program here: www.fws.gov/story/2023-09/2023-waterfowl-banding-operations-saskatchewan

Q. What are challenges you encounter in your career?
A. A few challenges I’ve faced in my career include being a woman in my field, which has taught me a lot about myself. Additionally, dealing with constant policy changes and budget cuts can be challenging when trying to complete a project.

Q. How did you get to this career?
A. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, partly due to my grandfather and father’s passion for the outdoors. While I wasn’t sure about the specific role, I was certain about working for the agency. It wasn’t until I got my first seasonal job with the FWS that I began to figure out my career path.

Q. What is something unique about your career most people might not know or understand about what you do?
A. Most people assume a manager sits in their office, filing reports and working on a computer all day. While we do file reports, I do whatever is necessary for the project to be completed. I am responsible for the refuge and all its projects, so if my biologist needs a boat operator, I will be out on the boat helping with bird surveys. The next day, I could be on the tractor grading a road or on an ATV spraying invasives. No day is the same for a FWS employee, and it’s what I love most about my job.

Q. Are there scholarship or internship opportunities available with your career? If so, where can more information about those be found?
A. Yes, there are internship opportunities available with FWS. You can find more information at www.fws.gov/education-programs