Amanda Calabrese, -herstory (25938513382)

Name: Amanda Calabrese

Title: SCA Environmental Educator

Duty station: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Amount of time worked in public service: 5 years

How much of this at USFWS? 1.5 years

Female Conservation Hero or Mentor? Why?

My mentor was my professor in college, Ava Smith. I wasn’t one of those kids who were always out playing in the woods and finding box turtles and earth worms. I took Environmental Science my first year in college and it was just enough time outside to spark my mind, get me out of my comfort zone, and from then on I was hooked. I took every class that Professor Smith took and have a lot of great memories from those times. This professor helped me realize that I had a true passion for the outdoors.

When you began your career, did you ever see yourself working for the USFWS?

When I began my career I could not imagine myself working for the USFWS (even though I’m technically not a FWS employee, I’m an SCA intern). I guess for a long time it seemed surreal that I could combine my passion for the outdoors with a career.

The mission of the USFWS is “Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people” How do you contribute to this mission?

I contribute to the mission because I’m enthusiastic about wildlife and everything having to do with the outdoors and people respond to that when I teach them. I help orient people to the refuge and what we have to offer, and also generate knowledge of the refuge through the social media platform Facebook.

It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to public service. Why did you choose this path?

I just absolutely love the outdoors and I can’t imagine my passion for the environment not being my career.

What do you like best about working for the USFWS?


The thing I like best about working for the USFWS is everyone I’ve met in the service is very dedicated to the work they do but they’re also humble and personable. That’s not something you come across in every work environment and it gives everyone the ability to thrive and really accomplish our mission.