Alum Mallory Cogburn (’20) traveled to Belize in July 2024 to help Adam Willcox, SNR research associate professor, instruct students for the course WFS 425 Tropical Ecology, Conservation and Field Methods in Belize.

Cogburn served as a study-abroad mentor while an undergraduate student at UT. She also worked on a side project in Belize as a Wildlife and Fisheries Science graduate student.

Cogburn volunteered to help Willcox with the course in the spring. She works as a biodiversity biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and provided input on wildlife field techniques for the course.

For this Step Outside episode, she shares what she experienced in Belize over the summer, what students learned, and why others should consider taking the course. You can watch the full interview below or on our YouTube channel.

Since the interview, Cogburn has become an adjunct lecturer for SNR. Congratulations to her!