Ava is originally from Connecticut and spent much of her childhood outdoors, discovering a passion for wildlife through her experiences hunting, fishing, and hiking. Ava's interest in conservation work has been driven by these long-term personal interests and hobbies. She received her bachelor's degree in conservation biology and ecology from Arizona State University in 2024. During undergrad she also interned back home in CT studying dragonflies and damselflies as well as American Kestrels. Traveling has been at the center of Ava's life, leading her on all kinds of adventures. She has trekked rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon, climbed Mount Washington, spent summers in Montana, and studied abroad in Costa Rica. These experiences reinforced her passion and career goals. Ava's journey has now taken her to UNL, where she is working on her master's project on the Two-tier duck hunting regulation system in Nebraska and South Dakota. This opportunity feels like a full-circle moment, allowing her to work with the hunting community she feels deeply connected to and learn more about the vital link between hunting and conservation. Ava's project specifically focuses on hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation as well as the two-tier systems impact on harvest and hunter engagement with conservation organizations.