One of the goals of EWCL is to provide a professional network for upcoming conservation leaders. In addition to their fellow participants and members of the EWCL Board, the EWCL Alumni Advisory Group (EWCLag) offers another opportunity for networking and mentoring for each EWCL class.
EWCLag is made up of EWCL alumni that have volunteered to support the efforts of the current EWCL class. Their first task is to reach out to incoming class members to answer any questions and provide an inside perspective on what it’s like to go through the EWCL experience. Once the current class forms project groups, EWCLag members have the opportunity join Board members as advisors on those projects. This is particularly useful as EWCLag members often have direct experience with the species the current class has chosen for their conservation campaigns, the countries where those species are found or contacts with potential funders (and sometimes they are even potential funders themselves). The EWCL Board also calls on members of EWCLag to help coordinate brownbag presentations, social media efforts as well as happy hours, outings and other fun social events. EWCLag members are also sometimes invited to revisit White Oak Conservation Center to speak at the annual EWCL meeting. For the EWCLag members, participation is a great way to stay connected with the ever-growing EWCL network.
David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation Amielle DeWan, Rare Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife Dennis Jorgensen, World Wildlife Fund Kathryn Mannle, Rare Claire Michael, Walt Disney Company Joe Milmoe, US Fish & Wildlife Service Alexandra Rothlisberger, Humane Society International Melanie Sorensen, Minnesota Zoo Kate Swails, US NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service David Tucker, Defenders of Wildlife Michelle Benham, Discovery Channel Natalie Bailey, African Biodiversity Collaborative Group Sara Bushey, US Environmental Protection Agency Julia Byrd, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Nikole Kadel, Innermost Essence Kristen Lewis, Philadelphia Zoo Susannah Smith, Wildlands Network Melissa Krenke, Rainforest Alliance Payal Kapoor, Tower Strategy Group Rowena Watson, US Department of State Nilanga Jayasinghe, Defenders of Wildlife Noah Kahn, US Fish & Wildlife Service Keri Parker, US Fish & Wildlife Service Carol Rizkalla, University of South Florida Gina Schrader, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Paul Thompson, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies |