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Meet Our People

Graduate Students


Madison Allen

Education: B.S. Animal Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Experience: Ranch Hand at IX Ranch and O’Reilly Polled Herefords, Beginning Horseback Riding Teaching Assistant at Cal Poly, Veterinary Assistant at Creston Large Animal Vet Services, Stenner Creek Animal Hospital, and Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center

Interests: horseback riding, baking, fishing, hiking, curling up with a good book, thrifting, having open-minded conversations, live music, paddleboarding (a skill in progress)

Hometown: Clarksburg, California


Paxton Bolen

Education: B.S. Wildlife Resources with a Minor in Rangeland Ecology, University of Idaho

Experience: Wildlife Technician with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Supplemental Instructor for Biology at the University of Idaho, Bird Rehabilitation Intern at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center, Vice President of Academic Excellence for the Beta Kappa chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Paddlefish Lab Technician at the University of Idaho

Interests: Hiking with my dog, backpacking, fishing, hunting with my dad, paddleboarding, white water rafting, snowboarding, house plants, ceramics, art, plant pressing, and hanging out with friends!

Hometown: Boise, Idaho


Jessi Bright

Education: B.S. Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho

Experience: Large Carnivore and Bird Intern Keeper at Idaho Falls Zoo, Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern at Palouse Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, After School Care Teacher at St. Mary’s Elementary School, MOSS Day Camp Instructor

Interests: Hiking, camping, house plants, art in any form, dabbling in birding, working with animals in anyway possible, and I love a good murder documentary!

Home Town: Born in Oklahoma, but have found Idaho my home half my life!


Madison Conarro

Education: B.S. Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University

Experience: Nature Area Director at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind, Napa, CA Nature Club Leader at Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Truckee, CA Upper Level math and science tutor, Clever Minds Educational Services, Truckee, CA Trail Crew member at Truckee Trails Foundation, Truckee, CA. PADI Open Water Dive Instructor, Utila, Honduras Marine Conservation Intern at the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center, Utila Honduras

Interests: Backpacking, backcountry ski touring, creating upcycled clothing, reading, scuba diving, and marveling in nature’s beauty!

Hometown: Manitou Springs, Colorado


Gillian Duer

Education: B.S. Environmental Science, Heidelberg University

Experience: Supplemental Instructor for Biology and Human Anatomy & Physiology classes at Heidelberg University, Summer Day Camp Counselor for the YMCA of Central Ohio, AmeriCorps member for the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps as an Interpretative Trail Member at Belle Isle State Park, Instructor at Sound to Sea and Summer Sound to Sea in Pine Knoll Shores, NC

Interests: Reading, cooking (and eating), being in the outdoors, rocks/geology, swimming, music, movies, and good discussion

Hometown: Columbus, OH


McKenna Erickson

Education: AAOT, Portland Community College; B.A. in Spanish and minor in Outdoor leadership, Pacific University, OR

Experience: Backpacking guide and camp counselor in the mountains of North Carolina at Camp Celo; camp counselor at Camp Gray with the Oregon Museum of Science, Inc. (OMSI); Oregon Outdoor School volunteer counselor; community science volunteer (Friends of Trees, Columbia Slough Watershed Council); Wilderness First Responder

Interests: Backpacking, road tripping, birding, bird photography, rock climbing, learning guitar, and snuggling with my cat

Hometown: Portland, Oregon


Karly Foster

Education: AAOT, Chemeketa Community College, B.A. Sociocultural Anthropology & Indigenous Nations Studies, Portland State University.

Experience: MOSS Summer Day Camp Instructor, Outdoor Education Specialist; Straub Outdoors, Cultural Resource Facilitator; Salem-Keizer Indian Education Program, Field Studies at Tatoosh School, SE Alaska

Interests: Most of the outdoorsy things, reading, music, dogs, food, friends, fighting pipelines, climate & social justice work, roller skating, growing things, learning with the youth!

Hometown: Dallas, OR


Rose Marchese

Education: B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Experience: Swim School Instructor, Behavioral Assistant with Phoenix Behavioral Health Services, Wildland Firefighter for NPS, MOSS Day Camp Instructor

Interests: Hiking, Running, Yoga, Gardening, Plants, Birding, Reading, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Backpacking, fostering kittens, and anything else that involves good times with my friends and family!


Eric Parazak

Education: B.A. Environmental Studies, Minor in Video/Film Production and Minor in Film Studies, California State University, San Marcos.

Experience: Gardener for California State University, San Marcos's pollinator garden, member of the Corridor Research Group, a group of CSUSM students and professors dedicated to learning about animals' relations to wildlife corridors, Conservation Crew member for the Escondido Creek Conservancy, Volunteer for Escondido Creek Conservancy's Adventure Camp (CA)

Places: Palouse Conservation District; Putah Creek Reserve; California Raptor Center; Shasta-Trinity National Forest; Putah Creek Council; Farm & Wilderness; Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center

Interests: Hanging with friends, meeting new people, going to the beach, hiking, camping, watching animals, live music, gaming, going to the movies, creating short films, making memes, eating food, and cooking

Hometown: Oceanside, CA


Hannah Pasek

Education: B.S. Biology, Emphasis in Marine Ecology, San Diego State University

Experience: Scientific Diver and DiveMaster, American Academy of Underwater Sciences, CA. Senior Field Instructor and Youth Programs Coordinator, Outdoor Outreach, a San Diego based non-profit connecting youth to the transformative power of the outdoors. Tidepool Educator, Cabrillo National Monument, CA. Volunteer farmhand, SwiftRiver Farms, ID

Interests: Surfing, kayaking, and most water related activities, pretending I’m decent at flyfishing, yoga, art in its many forms, backpacking, gardening, live music, connecting with new folks, cultivating relationships, and learning more about this beautiful world!

Hometown: San Diego, California


Max Ruozzi

Education: B.S. Recreation Leadership from Ferrum College

Experience: Environmental Educator, Rock Climbing Director, High Ropes Director, Summer Camp Director

Interests: Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Scuba Diving, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, Fire Performances, Laying in a Hammock

Hometown: Harrisonburg, VA


William Weygint

Education: B.S., Natural Resource Conservation, University of Idaho

Experience: Professionally Certified Ski Instructor, Environmental Stewardship Intern, MOSS Day Camp Instructor, Research Assistant, Certified UAV Pilot

Interests: Running, Skiing, Teaching, Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Cooking, and anything else where I can get outside

Hometown: Mountain Home, Idaho


John Wirls

Bio: Most of my formal studies have been in the humanities, especially in connection with language— analyzing it down to its roots. Yet my worldview has always been informed by inquiries and experiences with the natural world, which everyday teaches me the lion’s share of what I endeavor to understand.

I consider the outdoors (for lack of a precise word to describe its fullness and ubiquity) to be a truly great teacher, albeit one whose speech is of a subtler nature, whose lessons are often found in the in-between places. When I am disillusioned with the follies detectable in human speech, I come to the wild things, the rivers, and the winds in the woods in order to observe and to listen; and this activity, if I successfully tune in, leads me in a truer way, whatever the step will be.

τοῦ λόγου δ' ἐόντος ξυνοῦ ζώουσιν οἱ πολλοὶ ὡς ἰδίαν ἔχοντες φρόνησιν

“Though the Word is common, people live as if they had a wisdom of their own.”

— Heraclitus

Contact Us

College of Natural Resources

Physical Address:
1800 University Lane
McCall, ID 83638

Mailing Address:
PO Box 1025
McCall, ID 83638

Phone: 208-885-1080

Fax: 208-634-5244

Email: mccall@uidaho.edu

Web: uidaho.edu/McCall-Field-Campus

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