A journey into fisheries science may have been ignited by observing the natural environment, being awed at a visit to an aquarium, fishing with family and friends, or just enjoying a good fish fry. The first step in making it a career is committing to obtaining a degree. We wanted to take a moment to celebrate the academic achievements of those in the Women of Fisheries community – below are a few that shared their stories with us. To everyone that has graduated this year, savor your reward after all of those late nights of studying, the trial and error of field and lab work, and lack of sleep. Being a graduate doesn’t mean that you know everything, and as many wise mentors will tell you, the more you know the more you know that you don’t know! But you are better prepared to learn what life and a scientific career has in store for you. Never stop growing, exploring, learning, and challenging yourself, and our field will continue to advance thanks to your fresh ideas and energy.
How does it feel to be OF-FISH-IALLY done with your degree? Any words of advice for our recent grads?
Name
Elena Eberhardt
Degree
BSc in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation sciences
Undergraduate Project
My undergraduate research fellow project was on historical parasitism on freshwater fishes in the Willamette basin, fingers crossed for a publication later this year 
Future plans
Technician this summer with the UW Alaska salmon program in Bristol Bay, hoping to look for a graduate project soon!
Name
Victoria Goldner
Degree
Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology from New College of Florida
Honors Undergraduate Thesis
The Effects of Climate Change on the Migration Phenology of Blacktip Sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Future plans
Working on entering the field to work while I search for funded Master’s programs with shark biology and/or acoustic telemetry!
Name
Lizzie Jossie
Degree
Master of Science in Biology from Idaho State University
Thesis
Integrating social and ecological models to explore stream connectivity outcomes for stakeholders and Yellowstone cutthroat trout
Future plans
Fish Biologist for Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho
Name
Joe Pollastro
Degree
Bachelors in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and a minor in marine biology
Undergraduate Project
My senior capstone was on changes in abundance pertaining to periods of hypoxia in Hood Canal, WA.
Future plans
Figuring out my future plans as we speak.
Name
Kylee Wilson
Degree
Master of Science in Environmental Science and Ecology from SUNY Brockport
Thesis
Movement and life history diversity of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) between Lake Ontario and two barrier beach wetlands in the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area
Future plans
Start my PhD program at The Ohio State University studying yellow perch in the western basin of Lake Erie with Dr. Stuart Ludsin in the Aquatic Ecology Lab
Name
Kaylyn Zipp
Degree
Masters in Wildlife and Fisheries from West Virginia University
Thesis
Integration of fisheries ecology with the assessment of microplastic consumption in black bass in the upper Ohio River drainage
Future plans
PhD in Marine Biology at the University of Maine
If you would like to add your academic accomplishments to this post, send on your name, degree, thesis or dissertation title (if applicable), future plans, and a picture to women.of.fisheries@gmail.com or post in the private Facebook group.