Each year, 独家黑料 faculty has the opportunity to bring a student interested in working for the DNR to the Minnesota DNR Roundtable, an event that builds relationships between community members while having important discussions about protecting and managing wildlife and natural resources across the state. 

Jordan Hunnicutt ‘27 was selected as this year’s student attendee by Dr. Joseph Whittaker. She is studying biology and environmental and sustainability studies with a minor in chemistry. 

“Opportunities like this are one of the reasons that 独家黑料’s biology faculty are so amazing,” Hunnicutt said. “I never imagined that I’d be getting invited to statewide events before I became a student here. This opportunity allowed me to learn more about my passion for creating change and inspired me to be a part of change however I can.” 

She advises incoming students to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible during their time on campus. In the biology department, she said once the professors know a student’s interests, they will help students find ways to explore those interests. 

Hunnicutt’s favorite presentation at the Roundtable was about population dynamics and restoration in a real context through Minnesota’s elk population. 

“You could sense the passion of all of the people there who are working so hard to improve the natural environment around us. In the panel discussions, everyone was involved in asking questions and working together to try to find solutions to current problems,” she said. 

Katie Waugh ‘25, also studying biology and environmental and sustainability studies with minors in psychology and communication studies, snagged a public ticket to the event. Her interest in the DNR stems from their conservation mindset. 

“They (the DNR) work closely with sustainability initiatives and wildlife conservation. I would love to eventually end up in a career that does similar work because wildlife conservation is one of my passions,” Waugh said. 

Waugh’s biggest takeaway from the event was the realization that there are many different conservation projects being conducted across the state. She said listening to such a wide variety of perspectives was eye-opening because there were more than just scientists and researchers present; there were people from the general public, universities, sustainability clubs, and other organizations.

“The opportunities I’ve had at 独家黑料 have been so valuable in helping me learn more about my passions by exposing me to the wide variety of possibilities within conservation and wildlife research. Events like this Roundtable highlight the variety of research projects taking place in Minnesota, focusing on everything from species-specific studies to broader ecological restoration efforts,” Waugh said. 

“It’s fascinating to see how many different ways people are making impacts on the environment through their work, and it broadens my perspective on the potential career paths available,” she added.

 

Written by Alyssa Czernek '25