ShayLea McAvay

Education

National Engaged Leadership Award

National Society of Leadership and Success awarded me this honor because I went above and beyond the requirements for admission and did so with enthusiasm.
Nominated for the New England Outdoor Writers Scholarship

Finalist in the recipients for this scholarship, interviewed for this position and honor.
Secured a donation for Hammocks Beach State Park

Through my research and my colleague's research we secured an anonymous donation of $10,000 for the state park to continue our work for many seasons to come.

Career goal: Working with a state or federal wildlife division to protect and preserve our natural resources like waterbirds and mammals from extirpation from their historical ranges and adaptation to climate change for 2 to 3 years.
Graduate school interests: After 2 to 3 years of experience I hope to be admitted into a graduate program focusing on applied ecology and how climate change alters the migration patterns of various species. This is why I want to gain experience as I am currently honing my focus on a target species for the remainder of my career.
Outside the classroom: I enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, reading, writing and spending time with friends and family. I greatly enjoy being outdoors and identifying native species, gardening and traveling.

Shorebird Intern

Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, North Carolina

May 2015 – Aug 2015

Radio-telemetry Volunteer Trainee

Connecticut's Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency: Wildlife Division

Jan 2016 – Mar 2016
Wire Cage Trapping (Non-lethal) of Eastern and New England Cottontail Rabbits

University of Connecticut

Oct 2014 – Nov 2014
Electrofishing Volunteer Trainee

University of Connecticut

May 2014 – Nov 2014

Organizations