Winter 2019
Message from President Embere Hall

While it may not entirely feel like Spring here in Wyoming, a new season is upon us. Change, too, is afoot in the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society. In November we officially welcomed two new Board members: Eric Maichak (President-Elect) and Aly Courtemanch (Board Member-at-large). They join Nyssa Whitford (Treasurer), Daly Edmunds (Secretary), Anika Mahoney (Board Member-at-large), and Ben Wise (Past-President).

I have the honor of serving as your Chapter President for the next several months. During this time, I plan to focus my efforts on Society engagement. This includes an emphasis on Board expansion, committees, and student opportunity.

Board expansion: After much discussion, the Board voted to put forward a proposal to membership to add two new Board Member-at-large positions. Look for this in the coming months. The Board majority felt that additional positions would allow us to diversify the leadership, better allocate workload and facilitate a smoother entry for other positions, such as President-Elect.

Committees: We are fortunate to have several committees working on behalf of the Society. But, we need your help. Please consider joining and lending your expertise! For additional details on committee responsibilities and contacts, view our committee descriptions. Committees include: Celebrating our Wildlife Conservation Heritage, Communications & Newsletter, Legislative Affairs, Audit, Nominations & Awards, and Science.

Student opportunity: We offer several opportunities for student engagement, in cooperation with the Student Chapter of WY-TWS. These include scholarships, networking opportunities, and numerous learning sessions at the annual meeting. In addition to these benefits, I will work with the student chapter to assess opportunities for other hands-on experiences, including internships with various wildlife organizations.

Finally, one of the best ways to engage with WY-TWS is to participate in the annual meeting. This year’s meeting will be in Sheridan, November 19 – 21. The Wildlife Society conference (main/international) will be held September 29 – October 3 in Reno, Nevada. Call for abstracts closes April 5.

Whether you attend the annual meeting, join a committee, or serve on the leadership team, your engagement makes a tremendous difference in the Society. Have ideas about how we can do things better? Let me know (presidentwytws@gmail.com). Here’s to a great 2019.

Embere Hall
President
Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society

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Embere is a postdoctoral Research Scientist with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Wyoming. She is interested in the ecological effects of climate change, how wildlife can adjust to new environments, and management strategies that promote species’ resilience. Prior to joining the Coop Unit, Embere served as the Research Director for the Conservation Research Center of Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming. She received her PhD in Ecology from the University of Wyoming, her MS from Iowa State University, and her BS from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Embere has been involved with WY-TWS for more than a decade, and looks forward to giving back to the society during her term on the Executive Board.