Join us in welcoming Marie Jensen, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s new Conservation Program Specialist!
We sat down with Marie so you could learn more about her background and path to conservation work. Welcome to the Foundation, Marie!
Marie at Devil’s Lake State Park. Photo by Eddie Gergets
Origins
I grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin with a family that taught me to appreciate the outdoors and instilled in me a deep appreciation of Wisconsin landscapes and wildlife. In 2018, I came to UW-Madison as a declared Biology major, but I felt somewhat directionless. I lacked knowledge of what career options I had compared to my peers who were pursuing careers in medicine and research. The turning point arrived when I was fortunate enough to snag a summer position in the 2021 Yellowstone National Park Youth Conservation Corps. I spent a month living in Yellowstone doing trail work, learning about outdoor jobs, and exploring natural wonders.
Marie holding a monarch butterfly in the Sunken Forest of Fire Island National Seashore. Photo by Bird Hudson, @birdhudsonphoto
Badgers and Bugs
After returning from Yellowstone, I promptly changed my major to Conservation Biology and found significantly more momentum as I closed out my undergraduate career. I worked as a summer lab technician conducting monarch butterfly surveys, where I developed an interest in entomology. During my senior year, I joined NRF as a student communications intern, assisting in the Foundation’s efforts to move the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) forward.
Marie keeping a black bear cub warm while assisting on the DNR’s Black Bear Litter and Diet Survey. Photo courtesy of Marie Jensen
After graduating, I completed an internship with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the Lands & Habitat section of Wildlife Management. Then, I drove out to New York to intern with the National Park Service through the Scientists in Parks program. I spent several months on Fire Island studying the monarch butterfly migration before returning to the DNR to join the Snapshot Wisconsin project as a Volunteer Management Specialist. There, I discovered my passion for connecting people to the outdoors and their local natural resources, and I helped lead many of the project’s outreach and education efforts.
Outside of work, I keep myself busy with a variety of hobbies, including reading, crocheting, drawing, and figure skating. I love the outdoors, and I enjoy a scenic hike or a prairie walk to look for interesting bugs. I am always open to fun community classes or opportunities to learn new things. This year, I hope to learn to sew or knit – we’ll see what happens!
Marie hiking Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park. Photo by Eddie Gergets
Paying it forward
When the opportunity arose to come back to NRF to assist the grant program, I knew it was the perfect intersection of my interests in conservation and public outreach. As the Conservation Program Specialist, I will be coordinating the grant decision-making process, assisting applicants with any questions, and promoting NRF’s grant programs to broad and diverse audiences. I’ll also be sending out our monthly Partners in Conservation e-newsletter to the Foundation’s environmental education and conservation contacts. I am very excited to be joining the team, and I look forward to contributing to the impactful work that NRF empowers and funds.
Please join us in welcoming Marie!
Written by Marie Jensen, Conservation Program Specialist