4 UARIZONA STUDENTS SELECTED AS DORIS DUKE CONSERVATION SCHOLARS

UArizona students Madison Diaz, Hunter Henry, Karen Ornelas, and Nadira Mitchell were recently accepted into the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative, joining 17 other scholars across five universities in the 2021 cohort. They will become part of a highly selective multi-year undergraduate research and leadership program for students who want to contribute to environmental conservation and increase diversity in the field. This summer, Diaz, Henry, Ornelas, and Mitchell will work with graduate students and faculty in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment on projects related to the management of native and recreational fisheries across Arizona as well as the effects of urbanization on wildlife populations in the Tucson metropolitan area. As part of working on these broader research projects, they also will complete an independent research project of their own. The following summer they will complete 8-week paid internships with the conservation organization of their choice. They will also have the opportunity to meet diverse conservation thinkers and professionals; gain in-depth knowledge of land, water, and wildlife conservation issues and challenges; experience extraordinary natural environments; and build a lifelong network of peers.  

This is the eighth year of the Program at the University of Arizona. Previous scholars at UArizona have participated in research ranging from the effects of drought on lizard populations to establishing minimum flow needs of fishes in Arizona rivers to science communication projects to enhance conservation in important but underappreciated ecosystems.  

Campus Contact – Dr. Michael Bogan 831-601-9231 
National Director – Dr. Rena Borkhataria 561-876-1527