Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15. We are marking the occasion by sharing the story of one of our employees, Stacy Sanchez.
I grew up in Northern New Mexico in a small ranching community nestled within the Sangro de Cristo Mountains. As a child, I remember spending numerous weekends camping, hiking and fishing in the mountains along the Gallinas River. With conservation being instilled in me at a young age, it heightened my curiosity about plants, animals, the natural world, and ways to protect them for future generations.
I come from mixed roots. I am the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of proud people that migrated to North America in the 1400s. My Native ancestors thrived in Northern New Mexico for centuries. They protected their land and cherished their homes and families. I take pride in continuing my ancestors’ efforts for their conservation efforts and love for nature.
Fishing was a favorite past time as a kid.
I was very fortunate to graduate from New Mexico Highlands University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Ecology that provided a key foundation for me within wildlife conservation. I had amazing professors that encouraged us students to do research alongside them on various subjects such as elk migration or invasive plants. I know if I went to a larger university I would not have had the opportunities that fostered my career within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). I was able to attend conservation conferences and join groups to engage others like myself. It was beneficial for me to attend these conferences to see other Hispanics that had like-minded conservation paths. Most of the time I was the only Hispanic woman but that never affected the support I got from my counterparts because we all had similar backgrounds or similar conservation ideas.
I am very grateful that while attending a national conference I was able to meet USFWS staff and discuss the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). Shortly after the conference I was selected for SCEP and began my USFWS career. SCEP allowed me to work at National Wildlife Refuges in Arizona, California, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. I was able to conduct bat research along the Colorado River in Arizona and California as well as doing Southwestern willow research at Bosque del Apache NWR.
Helping with a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchling.
I also lived in South Texas for almost eight years and I engaged with a variety of Hispanics, especially families. There was a lot of fear of the outdoors, and little knowledge of why conservation is necessary. While stationed at Laguna Atascosa NWR, I managed the Visitor Services Program, and I found unique ways to engage the local, predominantly Hispanic communities through providing family-friendly activities on the Refuge. I was able to help minimize that fear so they could enjoy and appreciate the outdoors.
In 2013, I had the opportunity to move across country to work in the USFWS Headquarters within the Migratory Birds Program. I work with the North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant program, which is geared towards protecting, enhancing, and restoring wetland habitats to benefit migratory birds throughout North America. My main focus is working with partners throughout the United States in providing technical guidance for their project.
It has been 19 years since my career started as a SCEP and I am grateful for the amazing opportunities that I have had throughout the Southwest and at the USFWS Headquarters in Virginia. Conservation is in my blood because two of my role models, my brother and father, are current and recently retired UFWS employees.
Working with partners is important and fun!
As a Hispanic, I feel that Hispanic Heritage Month is very important, because it shows how Hispanics thrive and how far we all have come. Representation matters and it’s an important way to show future generations what’s possible.
I am proud of what Hispanics have done for this country and what they are continuing to do each day. As a kid that grew up on a ranch and spent the majority of my summers in Southern California, I know there would not be food on my table without hardworking Hispanics. I was blessed to be surrounded with amazing role models that happen to be Hispanic that always encourage and supported me.
My advice to a young Hispanic that is exploring a career in conservation is be persistent and if an opportunity falls on your lap take that opportunity even if it is not directly related to your career There has been countless opportunities that I fully wanted but I was able to network with people that lead to more opportunities that brought me to where I am today.
By Stacy Sanchez, Wildlife Biologist, Migratory Bird Program Headquarters
