Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies: Minorities in Natural Resources Conservation

My father and I with my buck.

In early September I was doing some research on my project like I usually do on:  Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and various other social media sites. I ran across a facebook group called "Minorities in Natural Resources." I was surprised that I had never heard of this group before. Twenty-two years of being outside, twelve of those which I consider my professional career.

I like to think that my career in wildlife started the first time I went hunting, which was when I was thirteen years old.  I was fortunate enough to be a part of Texas Wildlife Association's Texas Youth Hunting Program. I was about to go hunting on the King Ranch for whitetail deer. Being from an urban city and not having that much of a background in agriculture, I did not know why being able to go hunting on the King Ranch was such a big deal. I was just happy to be able to say that, "I was going hunting."

I remember feeling like an early settler as I, along with my guide, Marc Bartoskewitz, stalked my deer from 220 yards down to 40 yards. We were upwind, so the deer was unable to smell us. As we got closer, Marc pulled out a pair of shooting sticks, and I laid my rifle on them and sighted in on my deer. Boom! I had a clean shot and had harvested my first deer. It was at this time that Marc took the time to name all of the deer’s anatomical parts to me. This is when I realized I wanted to do “that”.

Being in graduate school, I still don’t know what “that” is. I know it involves being outdoors, sharing my knowledge, looking at clouds, birds, plants, insects, livestock and wildlife. I love it. I find myself slowly realizing where I want to go in life and what I want to do. I want to recruit for different state/federal agencies or non-profit organizations. I think the reason why I have loved working for different employers is because I love what they stand for and what they have to offer.

I digress, I found the facebook group “Minorities in Natural Resources Conservation” and there was a student application to attend the Southeastern Association for Fish and Wildlife Agencies as a minorities in natural resource conservation or MINRC. The application was due in two days, so I had to work quickly to put my application together along with two recommendation letters. I was able to get my application in and was selected to attend!

After serving as a GLOBE intern with The Nature Conservancy, I have been so stoked for anything with diversity in the field of natural resources. Being Hispanic and a female, I’ve felt I’ve always struggled to find my identity not only as a student but as a professional. I jokingly quote back to the movie Selena, where her father tells her, “We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, both at the same time! It’s exhausting!”

I learned this week that according to the National Science Foundation (2007), only 2% of scientific careers are held by Hispanic females.

It’s a little scary out there now that I think about it. I am a woman, who is Hispanic, in a predominately white male profession.

Caviar

I have always felt myself as an equal to my classmates as an undergraduate, but as a graduate I know the academic field has changed because there are fewer Latinos who go into research after receiving their first degree.

Being selected to attend the Southeastern Association for Fish and Wildlife Agencies annual meeting as a MINRC  student was definitely an honor and place where I truly felt comfortable in my own skin. Meeting students who were undergraduates and graduates that were interested in the same things that I am, was great. I also met various professionals from different state agencies in SEAFWA. Not only was I able to make new friends and connections by networking, but I also got to see old friends!( I also got to try some Oklahoma Paddlefish Caviar. It was delicious. )

Selfie of myself at the Finish Line Tower and Oklahoma River

   Attending this conference has definitely     helped my professional development, as the MINRC committee did an excellent job in helping students with resumes, cover letters, interviews, etc.
This conference also laid the stones for my identity as a graduate student professional within the field of natural resources.  I love seeing biological diversity in the natural world, and it is disheartening at times, that as natural scientists, we do not do more to mimic that within our profession. I am hopeful, that will change.

“We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.” E.O. Wilson

2013 SEAFWA MINRC Students and Committee Members