Shaping Conservation Leaders

Diversity of Internships Helmed by Nationwide Alumni Connections

Article by Kelsey Evans, CNR Editor

In 2015, Bob Dice ’89, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) manager for the Chief Joseph and Asotin Creek wildlife areas of the Blue Mountains region, helped set up a program to host two summer interns every year. Dice, alongside then Fish & Wildlife Department Head Kirry Reese and later Waits, created a contract between the WDFW and U of I for student internships funded by agricultural lease income from the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area. This allows students to be paid for their hands-on work experience.

Dice is proud that the program helps teach students of all levels essential skills, including everything from towing trailers to fence repair to communication skills, all of which are crucial for obtaining jobs after graduation.

“Some of our great U of I/WDFW interns are now in permanent positions with WDFW, such as Emma Charlet, Oak Creek Wildlife Area assistant manager at WDFW, and Reagan Barron Harris, private lands/wildlife conflict technician in Colville,” Dice said.

Emma Charlet went into her internship wanting to prove herself as a hardworking, competent and reliable employee.

“I had supervisors that were willing to make introductions to other WDFW staff, be professional references and help me find other WDFW job opportunities,” Charlet said.

As a result, Charlet made valuable connections.

“The internship led to my current position by giving me the opportunity to introduce myself to WDFW. It has been my experience that if you show yourself as a valuable employee, your coworkers will help you achieve your goal,” Charlet said.

Dice fondly remembers a 2016 dedication ceremony for the 4-0 Ranch Wildlife Area, a 10,000-acre subunit of Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. Amongst the Agency workers, legislators, Nez Perce Tribal representatives and community members that gathered for the ceremony, “our interns were there to help. After, they sat on the grass having lunch with the director of WDFW, U of I alum Jim Unsworth,” Dice said.

David Woodall, Chief Joseph and Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager, works with Dice in Clarkston to keep the program running. Woodall conducts interviews and networks before and after internships. Throughout the year, Woodall also regularly hosts daily field trips for other students as a part of the mentor/mentee program in the course “Fish and Wildlife Applications” taught by Waits.

Woodall tries to be understanding and patient with all students. He knows that it might be their first time interviewing, interning and getting work experience.

“I try to encourage them to open up about their passions and goals. I tell them that you have to start somewhere,” Woodall said.

Woodall especially enjoys mentoring because he never had this chance when he was at U of I.

“I was a non-traditional student. So anytime I can help and tell them what it takes to be successful and give them direction, it’s especially gratifying,” Woodall said.

Idaho Fish and Game

Similarly, U of I internship collaborations are gaining momentum at IDFG. In 2022, a new program through state operations debuted, thanks to collaborations between Waits, Chip Corsi, who is an alum, former member of the CNR advisory board, and recently retired IDFG Panhandle regional director, and JJ Teare, who is an alum and IDFG’s Clearwater supervisor. The program has grown to 12 students in summer 2023.

Laura Wolf, regional wildlife biologist from the Panhandle; Cassie Sundquist, fish production program coordinator, and Matt Falcy, of the U of I USGS COOP unit, also played major roles in this growth.

“You get the right people in the right place, with similar attitudes and drives, and then you can be creative to develop programs, such as the U of I-IDFG internship program, which makes a big difference in a lot of students’ lives and careers,” Teare said.

The goal of the program, to Teare, is to make the internship experience a part of “what we do, as alumni and within our agency. It’s something we build together.”

Not only does the student have an unforgettable experience, but the agency gets great help.

“It allows IDFG to use operating funds to give back. And it helps IDFG to develop and recruit new talent in a collaborative way,” Teare said.

Hallie Morris, an Ecology and Conservation Biology major, showcases that internships like these are not limited to Fisheries or Wildlife Resources majors. Morris has made the most of her time at U of I, starting with an IDFG internship in 2021, in addition to being an ARI intern in Hagerman in 2023.

“My first internship was very broad but amazing. I helped with population surveys, replanted after fires, cleaned up refuges, learned to snorkel and more. In 2023, | further learned about the inner workings of ARI by helping with experiments, sampling, feedings and daily maintenance tasks. My internships meant a lot to me, and I’m thankful as they cemented my drive to have a successful career in natural resources once I graduate,” Morris said.

At all locations, CNR ARI interns participate in hands-on aquaculture research, in addition to learning more specialized expertise depending on their interests and the systems at their location, such as recirculating aquaculture water reuse systems for trout, salmon, burbot and tilapia in Moscow, and flow through systems for trout, salmon and sturgeon in Hagerman, for example,” said Brian Small, professor of fish physiology and director of the Aquaculture Research Institute.

ARI also hosts interns from other programs and fellowships, such as NSF EPSCoR Summer Authentic Research Experiences (SARE), IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), Adele Berklund Scholars and the Mandela Young African Leaders scholars.

At the national level, John Oakleaf ’02 and Mexican wolf field projects coordinator for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, has hosted students for the last five years.

“Interns do a lot of on the ground management,” Oakleaf said.

Interns get to the heart of the issue, working on proactive projects to prevent conflict with land users.

Another way students contribute to research is by collecting and running genetics analyses from Mexican wolf scat. They do pedigree analyses in the wild and document animals.

“If you can connect enough scat from puppies, you can reconstruct the DNA and find out who the parents are,” Oakleaf said.

Oakleaf’s team is fostering pups to increase genetic diversity.

“Alumni have spearheaded the development of the programs and helped come up with funding at their agencies, in addition to contributing to the Fish and Wildlife Excellence Fund, which we are using to support these partnerships with federal agencies. They model and adapt cooperative partnerships, projects, programs and host students directly. We look forward to continuing to grow this program with our current partners and new future partners,” Waits said.