Hey everyone, my name is Austin Stewart. I am one of the 2024 summer interns at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Currently, I'm a junior in the Wildlife Ecology and Management program at Auburn University. I was born and raised in North Alabama. With a lifelong passion for the outdoors and wildlife, I'm excited to be a part of St. Mark's intern program where I can enjoy doing what I love in such a beautiful place.

A little bit about me: I grew up in a rural area of North Alabama surrounded by woods and creeks. I enjoyed exploring and admiring the natural world, and a huge reason for that was my father. He would teach my brother and me about nature and educated us at an early age. Because of my childhood, I decided I wanted to pursue a career working with wildlife. After attending Snead State Community College, I enrolled at Auburn University in 2023. When I got to Auburn, I started applying for various positions and volunteering to work with graduate students on their research. I have done a wide variety of tasks, from deploying camera traps to conducting vegetation surveys in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Additionally, I am a member of the Society of Natural Resources and The Wildlife Society here at Auburn University. Between my classes and the work I have done at Auburn University, I have been able to learn so much information that will help me with my future career.

In the future, after I graduate, I would like to work in positions that will allow me to stay in the Southeast while working with threatened and endangered species. I have a passion for herpetofauna; however, I would not mind working with any taxa as long as I feel the work I am doing is important and impactful. After gaining some work experience, I would like to apply for graduate school and hopefully achieve a Ph.D. I could see myself working in academia or pursuing more federal or state positions.

I am very thankful to be selected for the St. Mark’s internship program. This internship will provide real-world working experience in multiple areas, including hands-on experience with endangered species such as the flatwood salamander and red-cockaded woodpecker. I believe this experience will benefit me greatly in future positions. I am so excited to be working in a coastal environment that has so much beauty and biodiversity. I am not sure where my future will take me but, I am sure that the skills and knowledge I have learned with the St. Mark's internship will aid me wherever life takes me.