Meet Wildlife in the West 2025!
Will Stern
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: William “Will” Stern (he/him)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): University of Montana, Fish and Wildlife Management
Where are you from? Littleton, Colorado
What attracted you to this program? I was attracted to this program because of all the field work that we do. This is something that I felt was lacking from my college courses.
What are you most excited about learning? I am most excited about learning about endangered species such as bull trout and lynx. The field day that I am most excited about is netting invasive lake trout with the CSKT - Fisheries team.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? In five years I would like to be working in Wildlife Management somewhere in the west, hopefully Montana. I hope to apply what I have learned at SVC to better understand all the roles that go into wildlife management and find the right fit.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I like to spend my time hunting, fishing, floating down the river, backpacking and skiing.
What's a fun fact about you? I like to train martial arts in my free time, especially Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Liv Young
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Olivia “Liv” Young (she/her)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): Michigan State University; Fisheries and Wildlife – Wildlife Biology and Managment
Where are you from? Canton, Michigan
What attracted you to this program? This program not only gave me the opportunity to get experiential learning, but also to explore life out west, and to study large carnivores that I am not able to interact with out east.
What are you most excited about learning? Initially I was mostly excited to learn about wolves, but after spending a few weeks here, I have shifted my interests heavily into bear conflict mitigation and the roles of game wardens within MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? In five years I hope to move to Montana and work as a game warden with FWP. I hope to apply conservation efforts and have the chance to work with many of the guest speakers we meet during this program.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing in my free time.
What's a fun fact about you? I come from a first-response family, and that is a driving force in my career interests!
Silas Szklany
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Silas Szklany (he/they)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): I currently go to UMass Amherst where I study Natural resources conservation and Journalism!
Where are you from? I'm from central Massachusetts
What attracted you to this program? What attracted me to this program was being immersed in the natural environment and learning more about the inner workings of environmental conservation.
What are you most excited about learning? I’m most excited to learn about conservation from the perspectives of the indigenous people who live here in Montana. I’m also excited to hear from people who have worked in conservation for years and challenge my preconceptions.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? In five years I hope I will be graduated from college and working for a public or private conservation organization. I hope to be in communications or environmental advocacy.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? My hobbies include reading, drawing, writing, crochet, camping and hiking.
What's a fun fact about you? I’ve written the rough draft of two full length novels.
Jes Masshardt
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Jesica “Jes” Masshardt (she/her)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): Graduated from Carroll College in Helena, MT, and majored in Anthrozoology.
Where are you from? Sheridan, Montana
What attracted you to this program? The opportunity to learn in the wilderness.
What are you most excited about learning? Understanding Montana’s most endangered animal species and what we can do about it.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? My goal for myself, after finishing this program, is to figure out if having a career in wildlife conservation is something for me. Over the next five years, I hope to find a job that I’ll enjoy while staying in Montana and living my best life.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? My hobbies are camping, cross-stitching, drawing, and enjoying nature!
What's a fun fact about you? I grew up on an off-grid ranch in the Ruby Range of Montana.
Elly Gore
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Elly Gore (she/her)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): University of Idaho, Wildlife Resources and Conservation
Where are you from? Spokane, Washington
What attracted you to this program? I have been aware for most of my life that the issue of wildlife and natural resource conservation is a complex one, involving not just the animals but the communities surrounding them and citizens as a whole, but I never quite knew where or who to go to to understand more. When I saw an email about this program, I was so excited for the opportunity to meet people who have devoted their lives to these challenges and hear from the people affected by them.
What are you most excited about learning? I love learning about the history of these species and the laws surrounding them, tragic though they can be, and hearing the diverse opinions and needs of those managing and/or affected by wildlife management policies.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? In five years I hope to be doing work as a technician to gain experience and knowledge in this field. Long-term, I want to return to my home state and become a conflict specialist near Colville, where my family ranch is located. This program will give me a firm foundation in conservation policies and challenges, and I hope to use my learning and experience here to inform the choices I make to support the community that was so integral to who I am, and the wildlife we share it with.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I channel creativity through music and wood burning, and I enjoy blowing off steam with a little ice hockey. I also love impromptu camping/backpacking trips and volunteer trail work.
What's a fun fact about you? I have an AFA in music, in which I played piano, guitar, and voice. And I’m a massive nerd - from musicals to Star Wars, you name it, I probably know too much about it!
Cody Schrock
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Cody Schrock (he/him)
School/Major or current work: I’m currently working as a narrative filmmaker
Where are you from? I am originally from Indiana but live in New York
What attracted you to this program? What attracted me to this program was the field case study approach and being able to learn about Montana ecosystems.
What are you most excited about learning? I’m most excited to learn about the native bull trout.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? I hope to combine what I’ve learned here in the program with filmmaking to take a new avenue into wildlife documentaries.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I enjoy spending my time fly fishing and bike riding
What's a fun fact about you? A fun fact about me is I can make a great homemade pizza!!
Phin Reiker
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Phineas “Phin” Reiker (he/him)
School and Major: University Of Montana, Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Policy
Where are you from? Connecticut
What attracted you to this program? Being able to be in the Crown of the Continent and to learn important things for my major.
What are you most excited about learning? I am most excited about wildlife conflict management.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? I see myself working for an organization similar to SVC, somewhere in the Rocky Mountain West. I want to apply what I learn to gain experience that I can apply during my future career.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I spend my time outdoors hiking.
What's a fun fact about you? I don't have a dad, I was conceived through IVF.
Maddie Keene
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Madeline “Maddie” Keene (she/her or they/them)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): I’m currently attending Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, where I’m a sophomore studying Wildlife Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.
Where are you from? I’m from Fairfax, Virginia, about 30 minutes from DC.
What attracted you to this program? I found that Wildlife in the West really aligned with my interests as a student in conservation, as well as my personal interest in gray wolves and other western species. I had never been this far west before, so exploring the varying ecosystems and cultures within the Swan, while also getting college credit, was really intriguing for me. Ultimately, I am extremely happy with my decision to apply for the program, and of course I’m happy to have made it in!
What are you most excited about learning? I’m most excited to learn about the four core species of the program: grizzlies, gray wolves, Canada lynx, and bull trout. I have always adored large carnivores and that was a major the key factor in my decision to attend Wildlife in the West. I feel incredibly honored to be able to learn from many perspectives that have years of experience and knowledge on these animals that I would otherwise never interact with or learn about on the East Coast.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? I envision myself in higher education, pursuing a master’s degree or even PhD, then exploring what the world may have to offer afterwards. I hope to apply my newfound understanding of track and sign to more focused field technician and lab positions, as well as the necessary skills of being adaptable and dependable, both in the field and out of it. I believe that my experience with Wildlife in the West will overall make me a more well-rounded individual and scientist, ready for anything.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I really enjoy art: writing, drawing, and crocheting. I always leant towards the humanities before STEM, and my hobbies typically lean the same way. When I’m outdoors, I love to hike, go birding and herping, and just enjoy nature.
What's a fun fact about you? I have a one-eyed, mostly toothless, tiny-eared cat named Evie, and she is the light of my life!
Whit Anderson
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Whitcomb “Whit” Anderson (he/him)
School and Major: Montana State University, Fish and Wildlife
Where are you from? Crozet, Virginia
What attracted you to this program? I wanted to figure out what it is like to be a wildlife biologist.
What are you most excited about learning? I want to learn about bull trout and wolf ecology.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? In five years I see myself pursuing a masters degree or interning somewhere in the wilderness.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? love to fly fish, hike, ski, tie flies, and watercolor.
What's a fun fact about you? A fun fact is that I’ve never broken a bone
Olivia Hollerich
Full Name/Nickname/pronouns: Olivia Hollerich (she/her)
School and Major (or Current Work if not in school): North Dakota State University, Wildlife Biology
Where are you from? Saint Peter, Minnesota
What attracted you to this program? The opportunity to learn from experienced biologists with a group of like-minded people, in a beautiful place.
What are you most excited about learning? I’m excited to learn about bears and how they interact with the land and people around them.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you hope to apply what you learn here to whatever goals you have after finishing school/this program? I hope to see myself as an Airport Biologist, using relocation and animal management tactics learned here to ensure safety for planes and birds throughout airways across the country.
What are a few of your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your time outdoors? I love to hike, travel, paint, or play volleyball with friends.
What's a fun fact about you? I’ve been hunting since I was 10 years old around our family farm.
