Embracing Leadership

Recent graduate Ruby Jenco took advantage of UW’s many opportunities and reaped the rewards.

By Micaela Myers

Ruby Jenco came to UW all the way from St. Joseph, Mo., to study environment and natural resources and wildlife biology and management. Once she was here, her willingness to take chances led her to take on leadership roles and embrace adventure.

“During my time at UW, three of the most impactful experiences that really stick out to me have to be studying abroad in Chile my senior year, honing my active teaching skills with the help of Associate Lecturer Maggie Bourque, and the hands-on learning I experienced in Professor Merav Ben-David’s Wildlife Ecology and Management course,” she says.

Jenco served as a first-year experience program assistant in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, helping teach a freshman seminar course and produce an accelerated college preparation program for incoming students. “I think the materials I created will be used for years to come,” she says.

She also worked as a moose lab research assistant and completed internships at Custer State Park. Since graduation last spring, Jenco has worked as a field instructor at Teton Science Schools and hopes to continue to work in the environmental education field.

“All I want to do with my life is teach people about their surroundings, fostering a connection with the environment and showing them why conservation matters,” Jenco says. “I’m really proud of the fact that I thrived at UW, even during a global pandemic. I found my passion for outdoor education, connected with so many faculty members, was really involved in student organizations and have been recognized for all my hard work over these past four years.”

To incoming students, Jenco recommends trying new things and taking chances. “One of the main reasons I love UW is its size and sense of community,” she says. “It’s an institution that is not too big to the point where you feel like you don’t matter. However, it’s also not too small. There are so many student organizations and opportunities at UW, so no matter who you are, you can find your people here.”