TWS welcomes new policy interns

The Wildlife Society’s Government Affairs & Partnerships program has welcomed two new interns to the TWS headquarters.

Jennifer participated in a back-country pack trip to survey amphibians in the wilderness of Mount Jefferson, OR during an internship with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Jennifer Becar moved to the east coast from Corvallis, Oregon to pursue TWS’ Wildlife Policy Internship. In June 2016, she graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science and a minor in Zoology. With a degree specialization in Management and Policy, Jennifer combined her core studies in wildlife biology with an added focus on the management of wildlife populations and the policies surrounding such management. Jennifer enjoys investigating how political and legislative frameworks influence wildlife professionals’ management and conservation of species – making this internship a good fit for her. Jennifer is excited for the opportunities that living and working in Washington, D.C. will provide for her to further her education and experience in the study of wildlife. Past employment includes two internships with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, two weeks in the British Virgin Islands assisting with iguana conservation, and a year spent assisting with carnivore diet research in a laboratory on campus. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys riding her two horses, competing at horse shows, and playing the french horn.

Emily visiting with an orphaned elephant at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust while studying spotted hyena behavior in Kenya last year.

Emily Ronis, a Virginia native, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation and a minor in Environmental Policy and Planning. Throughout her college career, Emily spent as much time in the field as she could. She conducted undergraduate research on shorebird migration and habitat use in Virginia and spent a summer at a national wildlife refuge in Colville, Washington. After graduation, Emily spent a year abroad in Kenya, living and working in the Masai Mara National Reserve studying hyena behavior with the Michigan State University Hyena Project. While she loves being in the field, Emily has always had an interest in wildlife policy, which is what led her to this internship. She is hoping to learn as much as she can from this experience and how to incorporate policy into her career. Emily is an avid reader, enjoys taking photos, and seizes any chance she can to be outside.

Both Jennifer and Emily are thrilled to have this opportunity to contribute to TWS’ work and are looking forward to an exciting six months.

Wildlife Policy Interns help advance TWS policy priorities and provide benefits to members while gaining professional experience and expanding their network. Find out more about the Government Affairs & Partnerships program and the Wildlife Policy Internship. The next internship opportunity will be Jan. – June 2017.