A student from the University of Idaho was selected for the Scholars of Conservation Leadership program by the Land Trust Alliance in partnership with the USDA and U.S. Forest Services.
Mary Visger is a student majoring in wildlife resources and minoring in creative writing at UI.
"Mary is a beautiful writer, but she also has a passion for science communication through creative writing," Ajiah Gilbert, the Community-Center Conservation Program Manager for the Land Trust Alliance, wrote in an email to the Argonaut. "Her application inspired me and the other application reviewers."
Visger saw her acceptance to the Scholars Program as assurance that she belonged in the field of conservation.
"This acceptance is a personal affirmation that I'm still able to pursue my career in wildlife conservation in a competitive field," Visger wrote in an email to the Argonaut.
She would also like to inspire children interested in the field of conservation to be passionate about pursuing careers in the field.
Visger became interested in conservation in high school when she learned of a species that would go extinct at her local zoo.
"Not wanting to imagine a world without some of Earth's awe-inspiring species, these experiences ignited my passion for wildlife conservation," Visger wrote. "My passion led me to apply for the Scholars for Conservation Leadership Program because although my dedication for wildlife conservation is constant, I want to explore numerous possibilities of how to protect species."
Visger is the only one in her family to enter the wildlife conservation field. She was urged to apply for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative by her counselor in her freshman year, where she was accepted that summer.
This led her to apply for the UI Semester in the Wild program the next year.
"To this day, I deeply value conservation programs and their opportunities," Visger wrote.
The Scholars Program highlights how they want applicants from underrepresented communities and diverse backgrounds.
"At the Alliance we recognize that certain people and communities have been excluded from the larger conservation conversation," Gilbert wrote. "We're hoping to make the conservation field more diverse, because diverse voices bring different perspectives and solutions that we otherwise wouldn't have."
Visger also shared her struggle with having a disability and being represented in the line of work she wants to pursue. She wants to advocate for students with disabilities with the opportunity of the Scholars Program.
Visger mentioned how she is half-Filipino and how she would like more representation of her heritage in the conservation field.
"I find this absence unfortunate because being a Filipino drives so many of my conservation actions and defines who I am as a wildlife conservationist," Visger wrote. "This program will help me share my Filipino culture with the conservation field and perhaps, integrate some Filipino values into some ecological practices and encourage other Filipinos to enter the conservation field."
Visger attended Rally 2024: The National Land Conservation Conference in Rhode Island from Sept. 25-28 with other selected scholars. The students had opportunities to make professional connections, attend workshops and learn how to further their careers.
Visger expressed gratitude for her family and all who have helped her through schooling and that led her to the Scholars Program.
"This program will encourage me to explore numerous opportunities in the conservation field, some of which I'm enthusiastic to be involved in for my first time," Visger wrote. "This acceptance is a step in the right direction."