I attended my first conference back in 2015 when it was hosted by Carolina Raptor Center. I had just started in the field a year prior and was in awe of all of the information I was learning. That first conference taught me a lot and also introduced me to some incredible lifelong friends and mentors who’ve helped shape my journey since then. When people ask why I got into this profession and why I love IAATE, my answer is always that I started because of the birds but I’ve stayed because of the people. I think it’s so special to have the opportunity to learn and collaborate with people of all different backgrounds and experience levels. Our ability to work together in this field has such a powerful impact on not only animal care, but on the broader goals of conservation as well.
I want to be elected to serve on the IAATE board because I truly believe in the power of collaboration and the impact we can make when we support each other. This organization has played a huge role in my professional journey, and I’d love the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.