Samantha Hauser
(she/her)
Program Manager
As project manager, I am responsible for coordinating and supporting the Bird Academy team in course and webinar development. Bird Academy provides engaging and self-paced online courses and access to live events to inspire and teach birders, nature enthusiasts, and budding ornithologists.
I am passionate about ornithology, conservation, and science communication. My academic career and research centered around endangered species conservation, with a special interest in threatened and endangered birds. My Ph.D. research studied the movement and population dynamics of the-then endangered Black-capped Vireo.
As a postdoctoral fellow, I used conservation genetics to study a wide array of species such as the Hawaiian monk seal, Inca Tern, Waldrapp Ibis, Kaki, Kakariki karakara, Koala, and Fennec Fox. As a science communicator, I was constantly inspired by my students through my K-99 outreach education efforts—outreach talks, webinars, STEM camps, online Bird Quizzes, etc. I’m elated to bring my passions together inspiring the next generation of birders and ornithologists in this position at Bird Academy!
Education
Ph.D., University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Environmental & Evolutionary Biology
B.S., Rutgers University, Ecology & Natural Resources
Spark Moment
My career was forever changed by a field trip in my senior year of undergraduate; I previously planned to become a large mammal biologist. Our field trip was to help band Red Knots in Cape May, an amazing mecca for spring migration. It was such an inspiring and transformative day, that I changed my career plans to become an ornithologist!
