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Are you an active college or graduate student interested in joining the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Well, the Directorate Fellows Program may just be your golden ticket.
鈥淕rowing up, I always had an admiration for wildlife,鈥� said Dimitri Pappas, fish and wildlife biologist for the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office. 鈥淚 was always so impressed that animals didn鈥檛 have grocery stores 鈥� that they were responsible for surviving off their surroundings. The moment I learned species have gone extinct from human-related causes, was the moment I knew that my dream would involve helping them.鈥�
Pappas, along with many others, is a former directorate fellow who landed a job at the Service after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in wildlife ecology and management.
鈥淣ow I work in an Ecological Services office, implementing the Endangered Species Act. I鈥檓 even at the table working on a lot of these projects where endangered species are impacted, and I couldn鈥檛 feel more fortunate pursuing a career that aligns with my passion.鈥�
The Fellowship is a Direct Hire Authority program that includes an 11-week project for current students at the rising senior undergraduate or graduate school level. Upon successful completion of the program, along with degree conferral, participants may be directly appointed without competition to full time, permanent positions in the Service.
鈥淚f you want to work in the field of conservation and government, apply to the Directorate Fellows Program,鈥� said Pappas. 鈥淚n my mind, there鈥檚 no better way to access this opportunity.鈥漢kj
Many fellows who join the program not only come from around the nation, but also have diverse backgrounds, including those like former fellow and fish and wildlife biologist Sandra Hamilton, who ended up switching career goals after working for years in veterinary medicine. Hamilton, who graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in ecology, behavior and evolution and minor in global health, also works for the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office.
鈥淔inding out about this program was 100% pure chance and luck,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淚 received an email that mentioned 鈥楶aid summer internship,鈥� and thought that鈥檚 totally up my alley since I was supporting myself by going to school and working full time. I applied not knowing much about the Service and once I got in and learned what the Service does, I instantly knew I wanted a career here.
鈥淔or my project, I wrote a species report for the light-footed Ridgway鈥檚 rail, an endangered marsh bird. I had the opportunity to go out in the field and see the rail captive rearing program that I鈥檓 now involved in. The whole internship was completely serendipitous and one of the best experiences that I could have asked for 鈥� especially since it translated to the job I have now.鈥�
For others, the Fellowship program brought even more awareness to the various positions the Service offers, as well as exposure to new places and broadening perspectives.
Former fellow Amy Walsh explained, 鈥淚 loved my DFP project. I was based in Colorado, working on a system that makes consultation processes easier for biologists and developers by showing how their projects can impact wildlife. It was overwhelming at first, being in an office I never worked at and being in a city I鈥檝e never been to, but everyone was so welcoming and helpful which overall made the experience great, in addition to the work we鈥檙e doing.鈥�
Walsh is now based in California and works as a permits biologist for the Migratory Bird Program.
鈥淚 really like my job because it was out of my comfort zone 鈥� I didn鈥檛 know anything about birds before taking this position鈥� said Walsh. 鈥淚鈥檝e grown to love this position more than I thought I would and being out of my comfort zone made me realize how many different opportunities are out there with the Service.鈥�
Joining the Directorate Fellows Program can be a life changing experience and is made to set fellows up for success and encourages building lifelong connections.
鈥淭he camaraderie stood out to me the most during my internship,鈥� said Pappas. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed that many of the people who choose to work in the field of conservation are compassionate and caring, and my coworkers in the Service are no exception. Many of my peers from my DFP cohort have joined the Service and work all over the U.S., and it鈥檚 been amazing to stay connected with them and have friends doing super cool things with the Service all over the country!鈥�
鈥淭he DFP was a tangible opportunity for me to understand what it鈥檚 like to work in conservation,鈥� said Walsh. 鈥淚 felt like I wasn鈥檛 an intern or student, but already part of the agency, and I felt really supported. I was included and contributed my thoughts in meetings which really made a difference for me. It鈥檚 nice to be heard in those situations.鈥�
As far as advice goes to those interested in joining this program and pursuing a career in the Service, Hamilton mentioned, 鈥淏e vocal about your goals and what you want. If there is a position you鈥檙e interested in, reach out and network. During my DFP, I was very vocal and voiced where I wanted to work and made it a point to let my supervisor and others in the office know about my goals. At the end, it paid off because I landed exactly where I wanted to be.鈥�
Pappas added, 鈥淪o my advice to anyone wanting to join is to definitely apply because it can and will change your life if you get in. Realize there isn鈥檛 one way a Fish and Wildlife Service person looks 鈥� budget analysts are essential, administrators are essential and the list goes on. Our conservation mission can鈥檛 get accomplished without us all working together, and there are positions for almost everyone. When you lend your talents to the Service, whatever they may be, you鈥檙e supporting conservation and our greater communities.鈥�
