A Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Florida, Samantha Hermann '20M was presented with the Service's 2023 Southeast Region Regional Director's Honor Award for our involvement with the Florida Outreach and Diversity Recruitment team.
She reflects on her Seahawk experience in this latest Hawk's Eye View.
I like to refer to my time at UNCW as my Juicy Fruit years…short lived but man did it pack a punch! I began my journey at UNCW in 2018 in the dual master’s degree program of environmental sciences and public administration. I fast tracked my way through the programs and graduated in 2020 with both master’s degrees.
“Although my time at UNCW was brief (I often think too brief...but I can always go back!) It was the most crucial time and ultimately led me to my successful career within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).”
I remember Dr. Anthony Snider’s environmental policy course learning about FWS and thinking that would be a cool gig. Then, I was lucky enough to take Dr. Jennifer Biddle’s master’s of coastal and ocean policy course on North Carolina’s Coastal Issues and Experiences (highly recommend!), where we toured the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center and met with staff. We went on to experience some of the refuges within the complex. That was when I knew I was going to work for FWS.
I was extraordinarily lucky to land an internship with the Service through the Directorate Fellowship Program in the summer of 2020 and that sealed my fate.
After working with Pender County Government for about a year after grad school, I was offered a full-time position with FWS in the Panama City Field Office in Florida. I greedily accepted and currently work in the Ecological Services division, where I assist with classifying species under the Endangered Species Act, recovering species already listed and regulating compliance.
I get to work with incredible people recovering rare species within spectacular habitats. I am certain I will work for the Service until I retire, but maybe not in Florida as coastal North Carolina will always have my heart!
This FWS Service’s Southeast Region Regional Director’s Honor Award is a huge recognition for the Florida Outreach and Diversity team that myself and fellow UNCW alumni, Holly Ferreira '18C, '18M, are a part of. This team works to connect with the values of a diverse public and enhance support for conservation with recruitment and community engagement.
We have made strides in connecting the community with the FWS mission and we aren’t done yet!