Happy World Wildlife Day, Snails! Today we're thrilled to chat with a Madeira alum who took advantage of the learning provided by her senior year internship placement to explore her future career field.
Madeira: Please briefly introduce yourself.
CL: My name is Catherine Luther, and I graduated as a part of Madeira’s Class of 2017. I previously worked as a Mammalogist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and am currently applying to graduate schools, hopefully to pursue a Masters in Environmental Science beginning in the fall.
Madeira: How did your time at Madeira prepare you for your career? Are there any particular classes or skills that have proved especially useful?
CL: While I was never the best writer in high school, Madeira’s English program prepared me well for college and beyond. My Co-Curriculum placements were the most important aspect of my high school experience for my field.
Madeira: Did any of your Co-Curriculum internships influence your career path in a significant way? How so, and where did the internship(s) take place?
CL: My senior Co-Curriculum placement was an Education & Outreach internship at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida, a sea turtle rehabilitation hospital. The opportunity to spend five weeks immersed in this internship was an incredible experience going into the marine science field and laid the groundwork for future experiences.
Madeira: Could you share a bit about how you came to work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium?
CL: Following my graduation from the University of Miami in 2021, I was interested in pursuing marine mammal care, possibly through veterinary medicine. I began working at an animal hospital when I was awarded a Sea Otter Care Internship at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for a period of six months. I moved to California and jumped into anything and everything that internship offered. When my internship was coming to an end, the team caring for the resident Southern sea otters at the Aquarium was short-staffed and offered me a 2-month staff term position to help get them through, given my recent experience with sea otter husbandry. The team and I turned out to be a great fit and my knowledge expanded to animal training, amongst other things.
Madeira: If you have one piece of advice for a Madeira student interested in an aspect of the wildlife field, what would it be?
CL: The end of 2024 marked two years with my team, as well as the end of my contracted time at the Aquarium. I was in the right place at the right time, jumped in headfirst, and said yes to every opportunity. And that is my advice to you.
Thank you to Catherine for taking the time to share a bit about her journey with our readers! Are you an alum with a story to tell? Let's get in touch! Please contact Shannon McCarthy at [email protected].
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