Bitter Root Land Trust offers unique opportunity in wildlife biology and conservation

Thanks to the vision and support of one local couple, a new Master of Science assistantship creates an opportunity for students to step outside of the classroom and onto the land, with the goal to further local conservation while providing graduate-level education in the Bitterroot Valley.

In a unique partnership, Bitter Root Land Trust and the University of Montana’s Avian Science Center — part of the University’s top-ranked Wildlife Biology Program — have partnered to offer a two-year Professional Master of Science assistantship position to a graduate student interested in a career in land conservation.

The opportunity was made possible thanks to a generous scholarship donation from local Bitter Root Land Trust supporters Arnie and Deb Prentice. With backgrounds that include academia and a passion for philanthropy, the Prentices recognized the land trust’s need for continued support to help conserve the water, wildlife and working farms and ranches in Ravalli County.

“After meeting with the leadership from the University of Montana’s Wildlife Biology Department, we became excited to learn that there could be a fantastic opportunity for overlap with the work that the land trust does,” said Deb Prentice. “This is a great opportunity to support the university, its students and the land trust at the same time.”

With no current offering for the university’s students to pursue a degree working in land trusts, this assistantship position will provide a unique opportunity for hands-on training in the field, focusing on working collaboratively with landowners to conserve important land and water resources throughout the valley.

After a competitive interview process, the land trust and the University of Montana selected Megan Euclide for the opportunity. Originally from Pennsylvania, Megan began the two-year graduate program in August 2022. She has worked alongside Bitter Root Land Trust staff and local landowners to gain direct career experience to protect natural resources on private lands.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to learn about the local land and wildlife habitat conservation here in the Bitterroot,” said Euclide. “I am looking forward to being part of the community effort at the forefront of protecting this beautiful landscape.”

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Land Trust Alliance, its staff, its board of directors or any other individuals associated with the organization.