As an undergraduate student studying habitat restoration at San Jose State University, two of Mayas favourite courses were Coastal Field Studies and Coastal Wetlands. She thoroughly enjoys identifying coastal plants, animals, and structures and has created a plant identification handbook that the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District used to educate their staff. As her career develops she wishes to learn more about equity and green space access as well as expanding upon her passion for herpetology.

What are you hoping to gain from the conference?

I hope to learn about ongoing student research, meet new people working towards the same goal, and build community. I’m new to the field and am hoping to make connections. I’m also looking forward to hearing from experts in the ecology field that will alert me to a broader range of career options. There’s so much research in the field of wildlife ecology that I don’t know about. I’m excited to learn!

Which program topics or sessions are you most looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to the JEDI Session, as my past research experience (and current job duties) are centered around equity and green space access. I didn’t expect to see JEDI included in a Wildlife conference, and I am happily surprised! I’m also excited about the newts and endangered amphibians' session. I considered going into herpetology, and this session may reignite that love for herps!

What else does 2022 have in store for you?

If all goes according to plan, I will finish my data collection and finalize my thesis in time to defend in the winter. With my thesis completed and published, I will be that much closer to entering the professional world of ecology.