Among STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math), conservation is Queen. Women in conservation command fulfilling careers and address the most pressing concern of humanity, our future. Despite this, the number of women in conservation is lower than many STEM fields and young girls are often dissuaded from pursuing a career in conservation. As the Refuge Manager of the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, Jennifer Owen-White mentors a team of young women finding their place in conservation work for wildlife and their community.

Jennifer Owen-White is the first refuge manager of the new Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Valle de Oro is the first urban refuge in the Southwest and part of a larger push by U.S. Fish and Wildlife to reach urban audiences and connect them to the important habitats and wildlife that the Service protects. Before taking the position at Valle de Oro, Jennifer was the Refuge Manager at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and also served as the Visitor Service manager for the South Texas Refuge Complex. Jennifer is proud to be both a biologist and visitor services specialist. She was born in Chicago, grew up in Houston, and has a B.S. in Biology as well as an M.S. in Wildlife Science from Texas Tech University. Jennifer is completing her PhD in Forestry and Natural Resource Interpretation from Stephen F. Austin State University where she has focused on connecting urban communities to conservation and the outdoors.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx