Summer Public Interest Fellows 2025

How would you describe your experience?

This summer, I had an incredible and rewarding experience as a Legal and Policy Intern with Project Coyote. I was lucky to work alongside a passionate team of wildlife advocates from all over the country, each bringing their own stories, expertise, and perspectives. It was inspiring to be part of a group united by the shared goal of using the law to build more compassionate communities for our country's carnivores. As an intern, I researched local, state, and federal laws and policies, drafted a toolkit to help pass city resolutions, and brainstormed creative ways to move forward bills that support Project Coyote's mission. Through this internship, I was able to combine my longtime passion for wildlife advocacy while developing valuable legal skills I will use throughout my career.

What impacted you the most?

This summer, I was most impacted by discovering the many ways legal work and the law can be powerful tools for advocating important causes. Interning at Project Coyote opened my eyes to how legal strategy, policy, and advocacy intersect to create meaningful change for wildlife and communities. I gained experience with legal research to understand how regulations shape wildlife protection efforts. I also learned how to draft and propose bills that strike a balance between being practical enough to gain support and innovative enough to advance Project Coyote's mission. This experience showed me that law isn't just about rules and statutes, it's about using creativity, collaboration, and persistence to create solutions that reflect both compassion and justice.

What would you like to share with our donors?

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the donors to the Joseph Antonecchia Fellowship. Their generosity made it possible for me to accept this position and gain meaningful experience in a field I care deeply about. Environmental law and wildlife advocacy have been passions of mine for many years, and I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to turn that passion into real-world impact. Thanks to this support, I was able to take an important step toward the career I've always dreamed of.