Category: Junior Faculty Advisor

MacKenzie recently graduated from University of North Carolina Wilmington in May with a Bachelor of Science in biology. She’s had a passion for animals and the environment since she was young. She would love to use her degree to work in wildlife conservation and is going to be a zookeeper at Plumpton Park Zoo starting in July. This past year she completed a thesis on conservation genetics of red squirrels in the Appalachian sky islands and volunteered with the Cape Fear Bird Observatory to help with their spring migration bird banding. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, baking, embroidery, and birdwatching/observing wildlife. MacKenzie attended WYSE in 2019 and was a JFA in 2022 and 2023. She is so excited to be coming back as a JFA again, and she can’t wait to help make WYSE 2024 an amazing experience for the delegates this year.

McKenzie Moore (she/her) is an undergraduate senior at CSU pursuing a double major in Fish, Wildlife, Conservation Biology and Environmental Chemistry. She is currently performing undergraduate research in ecotoxicology to evaluate the remediation and recovery of a waterbody after acid mine drainage. Her current focus is environmental toxicology/ecotoxicology and she hopes to get a job in that field after graduation in the fall. McKenzie first discovered her passion for the environment after going to WYSE as a student in 2018. She is very excited to be coming back to WYSE for her third year as a Junior Faculty Advisor. When she is not working, she enjoys doing puzzles, crafting, and playing with her cat.

Recently achieving his AA degree, Tai’Juon Walls is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Health Science degree at the University of Florida.  In his free time he enjoys photography, art, and motorcycling. Since a child he has always had a passion for protecting and preserving the environment, so that generations long after can enjoy and be stunned by the beauty Earth holds within itself. Being a 2018 WYSE youth delegate and a 2019 WYSE intern, Tai’Juon is very excited to once again work alongside the wonderful WYSE team and the delegates to ensure another fantastic year of the WYSE experience.

Bob Colvin is a rising senior Biology major with a track in Marine Bio at University of Central Florida with large interests in anything ecological or scientific. His biggest draws right now are to entomology and astronomy. He is also an avid chess player.

Laura Frank is currently a junior at Tennessee Tech University, in Cookeville, Tennessee.  She attended WYSE in the Summer of 2019. She has always had a passion for animals, and she hopes to help in animal conservation one day. Laura has her own business, Fur Babies, where she takes care of animals while families are away. Guinea pigs have been her favorite clients so far. Also, Laura interns at her church, where she is a youth leader. Laura’s hobbies include getting coffee, spike ball, and petting any animal she sees. If you see a 5’2 girl running around, it’s not a child, it’s Laura! She hopes to help you all have an experience that you will never forget! She can not wait to meet you all and have the best Summer with you!

Lauren Novorska is majoring in Ecosystem Science and Policy and Anthropology and minoring  in Sustainable Business and Climate Science and Policy at the University of Miami. She is pursuing a career in environmental policy and education and is passionate about human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and educating students about ecological issues. She is an Everglades Coalition Conference scholarship recipient, serves as the President for the Pi Epsilon National Environmental Science Honor Society, works with the University of Miami Law School Environmental Justice Clinic Shifting Power Course, and is a Lead Educator and Mentor Volunteer for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Lauren’s  experience as a delegate, intern, and JFA at WYSE has been life-changing, and she hopes to make the conference an incredible experience for other delegates!