Empowering the Next Generation: Southwest Region Early Career Conservationist Workshop
Amy Lueders, regional director for the southwest region, provides opening remarks and questions from attendees at the early career workshop. Photo by Staff Sgt. Wheeler Brunschmid.
Albuquerque, N.M. - During the week of July 29, 80 early career professionals gathered from across Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona for the Southwest Region’s annual Early Career Conservationist Workshop. Attendees gathered to share and celebrate their impact on conservation and local communities and learn more about navigating careers within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The region invited interns, fellows, term employees, and new hires to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the week-long experience. During the workshop, attendees gleaned insight from hiring managers, learned about different job opportunities, and shared their individual internship experiences.
All About the Service
Attendees heard from many Southwest Region employees and their stories. On the opening day, Regional Director Amy Lueders extended a warm welcome and shared her personal journey which started through an early career program.
"When I started as a summer intern, I would have never imagined that I'd be standing before you today as a regional director," shared Lueders.
Speaking from her lived experience, Lueders encouraged workshop attendees to take advantage of the opportunities presented throughout the week and build a community that can be called on to help take on large complex problems the Service and future generations face.
To create relationships and build community with each other and other professionals, attendees met in small groups and talked with staff from the primary Service programs. In addition to hearing overviews of the various Service programs, attendees were able to learn more on how to stand out in their exploratory positions, on their resumes, and in interviews.
Ariel Elliott, Assistant Refuge Manager of the Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge conducts a tour of the refuge in Albuquerque, N.M. August 01, 2024. Photo by USFWS.
All About the Attendees
Attendees had the chance to highlight their own work to peers and Service leadership at the University
of New Mexico through presentations and poster sessions. Presentations ranged from surveying pollinators at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, working hands-on with the Mexican Wolf Program, Apache Trout recovery, and with our military lands to conserve habitat. Participants shared stories about the opportunities they have been involved in, how their work impacted the Service’s mission, and the community connections they have built.
Career Discovery Internship Program intern, Tashi Rae, spent three months studying the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse at Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge in Northern New Mexico. In addition to supporting the wildlife surveys, Tashi was able to engage in visitor services and programming. During the refuge summer camp, Tashi found creative ways to engage the local community in conservation through education.
"Kids from the local community helped me paint a mural of the animals the refuge protects. It was a great community-building experience through art and interaction," Tashi shared.
Over 20 attendees presented and more than 10 shared their work through poster sessions.
All About the Future
Modeled after the Midwest Region’s Youth Employment Workshop, the Southwest Region Early Career Conservationist Workshop strives to eliminate the mystery on navigating federal employment. During the final day, attendees receive one-on-one resume feedback and job application techniques. Attendees also heard from a panel of current Service employees who interned or worked for the Service previously through early career programs, who shared their journey throughout their careers.
On the third day, attendees traveled to Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in the South Valley of Albuquerque. The refuge, team, and partners strive to address environmental justice to improve conservation with the local community. In addition, the refuge actively employs local individuals through the Youth Conservation Corps and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps and provided the perfect background for the future of the Service.
As the sunset on Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, interns left the workshop with a toolkit ready for employment with the USFWS.
"This internship opportunity has allowed me to expand my horizons," said Abigail Garcia, a pollinator intern at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.
The data she helps collect provides insight into future management decisions.
"This workshop and internship have shown me that there are so many possibilities for working in the USFWS; you don't have to be a general biologist to get a job in conservation," said Garcia.
Get More Involved!
Do you know someone in high school? Transitioning out of military service? Just starting their college journey? Wrapping up an advanced degree? Wanting to give back to the community? Regardless of background or status, the Service seeks to empower and employ future conservationists in a wide range of disciplines. To do so, the agency collaborates with several different partner organizations, granting multiple ways for people to participate in living wage internships, with partners such as the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps. To learn more about this event, please contact Phillip_Stephenson@fws.gov. Want to give back or create a workshop in your region? Contact your Regional Intern and Fellow Coordinator to learn more.
