Wade Dara had a degree from Michigan State University in her back pocket and a steady full-time job at a well-established advertising and marketing firm.
Still, something was missing. “I really felt a huge loss of purpose,” said the 28-year-old student. Dara didn’t want a job. She wanted a career that made her feel like she was making a difference in the world.
That search for purpose led her to Washtenaw Community College, where she's now studying Environmental Science – and preparing to present her research on human-bear conflicts at The Wildlife Society's national conference November 1-5 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Dara's research paper, Examinations of Human-Bear Conflict Management in Yellowstone National Park, was completed for a WCC Environmental Science course. It was selected for an oral presentation at the prestigious conference, which brings together wildlife professionals, educators and students from across the country. She is one of just three community college presenters.
“I am incredibly proud and grateful to be representing Washtenaw Community College with such important research regarding the future of wildlife management,” said Dara.
With more than 10,000 members worldwide, The Wildlife Society (TWS) offers opportunities to connect, grow professionally and actively contribute to a better future for wildlife and their habitats. The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference unites the people and ideas shaping the future of wildlife conservation.
Dara earned an art history degree from Michigan State University in 2020. During her time in East Lansing, she also worked at the Eli Broad College of Business as a teaching assistant, and after graduation started working in the advertising and marketing industry because of limited job opportunities in museums and similar institutions.
When she decided to explore a new career path, Dara began to research community college programs that best suited her needs.
“Washtenaw matched most appropriately with a specific Environmental Science track,” she said. “Other colleges focused more on biology and basic sciences rather than a more tailored pathway. As I was a bit of a novice in this field, I wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to take official Environmental Science courses and confirm my enjoyment of the material.”
Dara attended the Michigan Outdoor Expo in 2024, where she met a WCC alumnus currently employed with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “She raved about the program at Washtenaw, and that had really motivated me to complete my application,” she said.
Dara was offered her first field position this summer as a Pygmy Rabbit Technician at the University of Wyoming, where she studied anthropogenic (human) pressures of climate change on habitat selection patterns for the pygmy rabbit.
Human-wildlife conflict is something Dara is interested in because it impacts the way people see and understand animal behavior. Her paper looks at the reasons behind a drastic increase in human conflicts with black bears and grizzly bears within the national park.
Dara said she was “truly surprised” when her research was selected from t thousands of applications for presentations at The Wildlife Society conference. She will present her research for 12 minutes and answer questions for three minutes.
“You are judged on your presentation by The Wildlife Society members,” Dara said. “And that’s great because they give you feedback and get connected with people who are interested in that area. The conference is as much about the research as it is networking.
“After my presentation, I plan to utilize important feedback and submit my paper for publication to a few wildlife journals. I am beyond excited to continue this journey.”
Creating sustainable bear-safe practices is possible but requires significant changes in human interactivity and related coexistence methods, she said.
“Through examinations in study of preventable risks and hazards, collectively shifting narratives regarding social construction, and increasing the consideration of environmental ethics, there is a possible future where ethical and sustainable human-bear management practices may be developed and implemented,” she states in the paper.
Dara completed the paper as part of her ENV 105: Introduction to Environment and Society course with WCC faculty member Kimberly Hill-Edwards, who also taught Dara’s ENV 101: Introduction to Environmental Science course.
Hill-Edwards is listed as a co-author for the conference, as it was required to list a contributing faculty member. Her role was more of an active advisor for any and all questions Dara had leading up to her presentation.
Dara describes Hill-Edwards as one of the best instructors she has ever had.
“She genuinely cares about her students, the material she is teaching, and the future of this field,” Dara said. “I have listed her as a reference on every job application, research opportunity, and now my TWS conference presentation as a co-author. Any student that takes her courses here is guaranteed to succeed.”
Dara has taken the majority of her WCC courses online. After completing the remaining five courses of her Environmental Science associate degree, she plans to pursue a master’s degree and a career as a federal biologist.
“Having graduated (from MSU) during COVID, I had many classes that had transitioned into hybrid,” she said. “I personally enjoy online learning as I make a concerted effort to engage with my classmates in discussion posts and my professors via email. If you are a person that needs to be around other people to learn and retain information, I can see that slightly being a challenge. But our campus has an incredible library, where students are always working, so that is always a great resource.”
Dara, who lives with her husband (Trent), two rescue cats (Franklin and Oswald) and a rescue dog (Shuggy), hopes to someday launch her career as an Endangered Species Biologist in the Pacific Northwest.
“I have always enjoyed research that focuses on anthropogenic (human) pressures, human-wildlife conflict, and ecology,” she said. “That being said, I would be honored at the opportunity to work with any species, but ideally I would be leading a herpetology (amphibians and reptiles) based field position. If I were to remain in the state, Michigan would have incredible options for wildlife degrees such as Michigan State, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, and Michigan Tech. As long as a position is fully funded, I will accept any opportunity that fits my research interests.”