Personal Summary

I am an assistant professor of wildlife biology in the Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Science and the Wildlife Biology Program. I am a past award winner of the Bullitt Environmental Leadership Fellowship ($100,000) and now serve on the Board of the Bullitt Foundation. I used the fellowship to conduct conservation research on Palouse Prairie amphibians in Eastern Washington. I was formerly a Co-Director of Southern Oregon University’s Ecology Center of the Siskiyous (now the Environmental Resource Center). While at SOU, I co-led an effort to pass a green-tags initiative to offset the university’s carbon footprint. I have also served on the board of Oregon Stewardship and the board of the Society of Northwestern Vertebrate Biology. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Southern Oregon University and Masters and Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University (2020). I am a naturalist at heart and thus have eclectic research interests, including the conservation of endangered species, the ecology and sustainability of freshwater ecosystems, and amphibians and freshwater fish. I am willing to serve on graduate student committees here at UM and for students at the universities. I often tell my students I am a conservation biologist who teaches wildlife biology. 

I am a first-generation college graduate and proud of my parent’s farm working and immigrant roots. I am devoted to encouraging students from under-represented groups to pursue higher education, particularly in the sciences. In service of this goal, I frequently give presentations to students and their parents. I often enjoy giving these presentations in Spanish to connect with Latino communities. I also offer educational workshops and mentor undergraduate Latino student groups and students from the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (Links to an external site.). I hope to create applied ecological research while helping diversify the conservation and environmental field. 

In my spare time, I love to take photos of wildlife, paddle, float, and tube rivers, and Latin dance. 

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences. December 2020

Master of Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. December 2012
Natural Resource Sciences with a focus on Aquatic Ecology and Amphibian Conservation 

Bachelor of Science, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR. June 2007
       Major:    Environmental Studies with a focus in Biology 
       Minors:  Economics 
                     Political Science

Speaking Engagements

 “Amphibian Occupancy Modeling of an Inland Northwest Farmed Ecosystem: A Surprising Predictor of Occupancy.” Invited Seminar, Flathead Lake Biology Station, Flathead Lake Mt. June 2023

“Slime and Scales: Field Ecology Amphibian and Reptiles of Western Montana.” Teller Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis Mt June 2023

“Amphibians and Reptiles of Western Montana.” Educational Workshop, Montana Natural History Center, Missoula Mt. April 2023

“From Special Education to Wildlife Biologist.” Invited* Michigan State University -Extension, 4-H, Dec. 2022

“Creating a More Inclusive Classroom” Invited, Zoom, University of Nebraska, and the Wildlife Society. Sept. 2022

“Amphibian Occupancy Modeling of an Inland Northwest Farmed Ecosystem: A Surprising Predictor of Occupancy.” Invited Oral Presentation, Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Spokane Wa. July 2022

"Equity in the Wildlife Profession" Plenary, Montana Chapter Conference of the Wildlife Society, Butte, Mt Feb. 2022

"Amphibian Occupancy Modeling of an Inland Northwest Farmed Ecosystem: A Surprising Predictor of Occupancy." ESPM: Grad Seminar, UC Berekely, Ca. Feb. 2022

"Amphibian Occupancy Modeling of an Inland Northwest Farmed Ecosystem: A Surprising Predictor of Occupancy." Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife: Grad Seminar, OSU, Corvallis, Or. Feb. 2022

"Amphibians and Charismatic MiniFauna with Dr. Erim Gόmez" K9 Conservationists Podcast Jan. 2022

"Latinx and Chicanx Legacy at WSU: A microcosm for the grater Chicano movement." Workshop, WSU Pullman. Wa. Nov. 2021

"Inclusive Conservation." Invited Panelist, WildHub Festival, Cornwall, UK, November. 2021

"Diversity in Conservation: Challenges and Solutions." DiverseU Conference, University of Montana, Missoula, Mt. Nov. 2021 

"A Latino's Wildlife Story and Climate Change Biology."  Latinx Heritage Month, LSAMP and SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY. Sept. 2021 

"Enjoy the Journey, Help Others and Create Community." Southern Oregon Unversity Commencement. Ashland, Or. June 2021 

"Slime and Scales" Amphibian and Reptiles of the Wenatchee Valley." BirdFest, Wenatchee River Institute, Leavenworth, Wa. May 2021 

"From Special Education to PhD: A Latino's Conservation Journey." Earth Week, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Or.  April 2021

"Becoming a Naturalist." Latino HS Ecology Interns, William C. Velasquez Institute, Los Angeles, Ca. April 2021

"Ecological Models Predicting Amphibian Occupancy in Palouse Prairie Wetlands." Biology Department Seminar, Gonzaga University, Spokane Washington April 2021

"Purdue University Northwest (PNW) McNair Scholars Program’s Faculty Panel." Hammond, Indiana. April  2021

"Nuestra Casa - Our Home Children's Book." Read in Spanish, Corvallis, Or. March 2021

"From Special Education to PhD: A Latino's Academic Journey." LatinX Student Union, Washington State University-Vancouver Wa. March. 2021.

"Conversation: Equity and Diversity in the Conservation and Wildlife Profession"  Wildlife Biology Seminar, University of Montana, Missoula, Mt. March 2021.

"Black History Month: Envisioning Diversity in Science With NOAA’s Dr. Ambrose Jearld." Host and Moderator, Wildlife Biology Program and SACNAS, University of Montana, Missoula MT. Feb. 2021  

"Indigenous Research Methods Panel" Session Host and Moderator. University of Indigenous Mentoring Program. Missoula, Mt. Feb. 2021.

"From Special Education to PhD: A Latino's Academic Journey." SACNAS Chapter, Washington State University, Pullman Wa. Feb. 2021.

"Climate Change and Ecological Models of Amphibian Communities in Palouse, Prairie Wetlands" School of the Environment, Seminar, Washington State University. Pullman Wa. Nov. 2020.

"Indigenous Mentoring Student Panel" Session Host and Moderator. University of Montana, Indigenous Mentoring Program. Missoula, Mt. Oct. 2020.

"From Special Education to PhD: A Latino's Academic Journey." DivereU. University of Montana, Missoula, Mt. Oct. 2020.

"Navigating College as a LatinX Student"  Skagit Valley College, Wa. Panel Discussion. Oct. 2020. 

"Introduction to Meso-American Ethnoboatany" University of Montana, Missoula, Mt. Mentored and Collaborated with UM Environmental Studies Masters Student, E. Castellanos.  Sept. 2020.

"Anfibios y el Impacto Del Calentamiento Global"  en Las Praderas de Norteamérica Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE). Quito, Eucaro Aug. 2020.

Field of Study

Conservation Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Non-game Conservation and Management, Amphibian Conservation and Ecology, Non-native Species, Freshwater Biology, and Equilty in Wildlife Profession. 

Publications

Learn More Here “Introduction to Wildlife Management and Conservation in North America.” Gomez, E., Biship, C., Orgen J. and Ryder, T. Great River Learning, Dubuque, IA. ISBN: 9781680755961 Sole Author: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Wildlife Biology Co-author: Careers in Wildlife Biology and Closely Related Disciplines Chapter

Specialized Skills

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Conservation Profession. 

Professional Experience

Training 

"Adaptive Leadership Inquiry Project." UM Office of Organizational Learning and Development, Spring 2021

"Race and Teaching Faculty Learning Community." Six Meetings, MUS Teaching Scholars Learning Communities, UM Law School, Spring Semester 2021

Honors / Awards

UM Franke College of Forestry & Conservation Faculty Service Award 2023

WSU Alumni Association La Alazina Award 2022 

AAAS Science and Policy Workshop Scholarship 2015  

SOU Alumni Ambassador Award: Biology Department Hall of Fame 2014

WSU President’s Leadership Award 2014

WSU Future Faculty Fellowship 2014

WSU President Teaching Academy 2013      

Bullitt Environmental Leadership Fellowship: $100,000, 2011-2013