After Cody, Wyoming, native Macy Kenney graduated from high school, she felt attending Northwest College was the next natural step. Knowing NWC was the perfect place to kickstart her career and enjoy the perks of small town life, she dove headfirst into every research and learning opportunity she could while majoring in natural resource biology. Throughout her academic career, she’s researched campus songbird richness, a local bat population, golden eagles, sage thrashers and much more. She’s even taken her results outside of the classroom and presented her research at regional and international scientific conferences.
 
After earning her bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Wyoming in 2017, Kenney moved to Florida where she interned at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, working with approximately 53 different native species. She currently lives in England with her husband and looks forward to volunteering at other wildlife facilities and pursuing her future goal of earning a master’s degree.
 
What sparked your interest in working with raptors?
My interest in birds was sparked during my first project with Eric Atkinson [assistant professor of biology and coordinator of biological sciences] at NWC. I became enthralled with birds because they evolved into so many different variations. There are so many different plumage colors and vocal songs that are unique to certain species and specific geographic locations. However, you can still find birds globally. I didn’t actually work with raptors until the Raptor Research REU program at Boise State University. There, I learned how to properly handle raptor species, their ecology and how to delve even deeper into conducting research. At the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, I handled sick individuals. To be honest, it’s also pretty cool to say, “Oh yeah, I handled a barred owl today.”
 
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I wouldn’t say it’s a singular piece of advice or a phrase. It was more how my professors and mentors cared about my education and how they wanted me to succeed, even when I didn’t think I could. My professors always believed in me more than I believed in myself. Now, on a larger scale (AKA the outside world), I still have a little self-doubt of my capabilities, but then I remember, “What would Mr./Mrs./Miss _______ say about this? Well, they’d tell me to go for it!” When I returned to Powell for a visit in February, three of my major NWC professors (Eric Atkinson, Ron Hitchcock and John Campbell) came and had coffee with me and my husband—three years after I graduated from NWC. How much cooler can that get!? I thank them all deeply for the effort they put into my education, as it only encouraged me to be my best.
 
What do you remember most vividly about your NWC experience?
I was in INBRE (IDeA Networks for Biomedical Research Excellence) my entire two years at NWC, and I remember the level of advanced projects I was given. Looking back as a graduate, I can’t believe the things I was entrusted with. As a college freshman/sophomore, INBRE gave me the work experience of a junior/senior. I really noticed that when I went to UW and participated in the Raptor Research REU program. When Eric Atkinson asked me to be in INBRE, that was really a key point in my education. It defined what was going to happen for the next four years. Without INBRE, I don’t think I would have been accepted into any of my other programs. It was the springboard for my education.
 
What advice do you have for current students?
Naturally, I am quiet and shy. I purposefully avoid social activities. I’m happy I didn’t let that get in the way of accepting internship positions. Also, listen to your professors at NWC. For example, Eric Atkinson wanted me to apply for the Raptor Research REU program in 2015, but I declined because I was too worried everyone was going to be older than I was (because for some reason that was a big deal to me at the time). I forgot about the application until I saw the same poster up at UW for 2016, and I decided to apply for it and I was accepted! That Raptor Research REU program was a life-changing program! Eric Atkinson knew what I needed to enhance my education before I even did.

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