Conservation Leaders Finish Master's Studies

Having applied the tools of science, education and conservation to become leaders in conversation communities, two local graduate students in the Global Field Program and the Advanced Inquiry Program from Miami University's Project Dragonfly have finished their master's studies.

In December 2023, Kristen Hannigan of the Cumberland area concluded a master's course of study with a Master of Arts degree in biology from Miami University through Project Dragonfly.

Since joining the Global Field Program master's in 2020, Hannigan has traveled to Borneo and Namibia and conducted projects that have made a difference in the Atlanta area.

Throughout her time in the GFP, Hannigan developed a Master Plan - a kind of personal mission statement for what she wanted to accomplish in the program. In many of the master's courses, Hannigan designed projects that supported this plan, which culminated in a final portfolio, "Connecting the Public to Conservation through ecotourism, zoo engagement and mindset shifts" presented in a Capstone course.

Hannigan works as an associate curator at Georgia Aquarium .

The GFP is a master's degree program that combines summer field courses worldwide with online learning communities. Project Dragonfly is based in the department of biology at Miami University, a state university in Oxford, Ohio.

For more information, visit https://miamioh.edu/cas/graduate-studies/project-dragonfly/global-field-program/index.html .

In December 2023, Channing Milchuck of Mableton concluded a master's course of study with a Master of Arts degree in biology from Miami University through Project Dragonfly.

Since joining the Advanced Inquiry Program master's in 2022, Milchuck has traveled to Paraguay and conducted projects that have made a difference in the Mableton area.

Throughout her time in the AIP, Milchuck developed a Master Plan - a kind of personal mission statement for what she wanted to accomplish in the program. In many of the master's courses, Milchuck designed projects that supported this plan, which culminated in a final portfolio, "Co-existing With Wildlife: Creating Wildlife-Friendly Neighborhoods in Order to Reduce Habitat Fragmentation" presented in a Capstone course.

Milchuck works as a primate and mammal swing keeper at Zoo Atlanta.

The AIP is a master's degree program offered by Miami University with experiential learning and community engagement at affiliated AIP sites across the U.S. Project Dragonfly is based in the department of biology at Miami University.

For more information, visit https://miamioh.edu/cas/graduate-studies/project-dragonfly/advanced-inquiry-program/index.html .