Eligible candidates have until August 1 to apply
The Native Student Professional Development Program provides Indigenous students with the opportunity to attend The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference, one of the largest gatherings of wildlife professionals in North America. Now in its 18th year, the program is organized by the Native Peoples’ Wildlife Management Working Group (NPWMWG) of The Wildlife Society and supported by TWS, the U.S. Forest Service, the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society and the Edmonton Heritage Council.
Participants in the 2025 program will receive a travel grant to attend The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from Oct. 5-9, 2025. Candidates must be members of a Native American, First Nations or Indigenous tribe or identify as Native Alaskan or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and they must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in a relevant academic discipline.
The Native Student Professional Development Program is for students just beginning their studies in wildlife science as well as more experienced students. Nearly half of the applicants from last year were pursuing advanced degrees, like Keolohilani H. Lopes Jr., a doctoral student at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s Natural Resources and Environmental Management Department.
“The program has broadened my knowledge of Native American projects and regional differences between tribes,” said Lopes Jr., who is native Hawaiian/Kānaka Maloi. “It gave me motivation to keep going in the field and advocate more for our voices to be heard at the table.” After he completes his doctoral work, Lopes Jr. plans to work for a government agency to help manage his native lands and waters.
For Marie Taylor, an undergraduate zoology student at Utah Valley University, attending TWS’ 2024 annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland, helped demystify the graduate school application process.
“The program helped me think about the future and the different paths I could take,” Taylor said. “It was really helpful to learn what working for an agency like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife actually entails and how to get there,” she said. Taylor plans to pursue a master’s degree and a career as a wildlife biologist.
Components of this year’s program include complimentary conference registration, specialized workshops, conference mentorship, one-year TWS & NPWMWG membership, wildlife career panel discussion, networking events and engagement with TWS leadership. The deadline to apply for this year’s program is Aug. 1.
Visit wildlife.org/npwmwg/professional-development-program for information on how to apply, eligibility and more program details.
