The Washington Chapter of The Wildlife Society (WATWS) is hosting our second mentorship program cohort, pairing established wildlife professionals with students and early career professionals. The goals of the program are to:

• Learn from each other by sharing experience and insight
• Promote professional development
• Increase the transfer of institutional knowledge in the face of a changing workforce
• Promote a sense of community within the Chapter
• Promote a culture of belonging and open dialogue
• Retain current Chapter members and attract new members

The mentor/mentee application is currently accepting applications until Friday, October 16, 2026.

Please forward this information to anyone you think may be interested and thank you for your consideration! Below is some information on the program. 

How long is the program and what is the schedule?
The program will run for approximately 8 months, from October through May, 2027.

The general timeline is as follows:

• “How to be a Mentor” Fireside Chat Webinar on October 5 (Use the link to register for the webinar)
• Mentor and mentee application opens September 18 and closes October 16
• Notify matches on October 20
• Optional in-person social events to connect with other mentors/mentees TBD
• Optional virtual check in to connect with other mentors/mentees TBD
• In-person event during the WATWS Annual Conference in March
• Program closing event in May 2027

How often will mentors and mentees meet?
Mentor/mentee pairs will determine the frequency of their meetings throughout the year and there is no set requirement; however, mentors and mentees must be willing and able to devote enough time to make the mentoring relationship meaningful. We recommend meeting at least once per month.

What is the monthly time commitment?
Approximately 1-3 hrs. per month

How many mentees would be assigned to each mentor?
Up to 2

Can I be a mentor if I have limited experience?
Yes, though we recommend that mentors have at least 4 years of post-undergraduate experience. We will be offering a fireside chat on “How to be a Mentor” on Oct 5 @ 5:30-6:30 pm and provide informational materials. Use this link to register for the webinar.

Do I have to be a WATWS member to join the program?
No, but we encourage you to join. We also encourage mentors to sponsor student membership.

Do I have to be a wildlife biologist to be a mentor?
Mentors do not have to be wildlife biologists specifically but should be in a related field. We encourage people from all sectors of the wildlife or environmental profession to participate as mentors, including graduate students and postdocs.

How will mentors/mentees be paired?
Mentors and mentees will fill out an application identifying goals, skills, experience, profession/career stage, where they are located, and time capacity. The Mentorship Committee will make every effort to make the most successful pairings possible where the mentor’s expertise aligns with the goals and objectives of the mentee. The answers provided in the application will be shared with your mentee or mentor upon pairing.

Will meetings be in-person or virtual?
In-person meetings are highly encouraged, and pairings will be made to accommodate location to the best of our ability, but mentors and mentees can also arrange virtual meetings on an agreed-upon platform. We will schedule a couple of optional in-person and virtual gatherings for all program participants (TBD).

Please take a moment and register HERE by close of business October 16, 2026

Questions - Please email jenn.lang@watws.org

Program Review - "I have a glowing recommendation for this program. My mentor helped guide me through a challenging period for my career; they helped me keep my ultimate goals in sight as I wrestled with complex and meaningful decisions, connected me with local experts, and made my struggle feel seen and heard by someone who understands the challenges of an early career biologist. Because of their guidance, I persevered and my mentor and I now work in similar fields. I look forward to engaging with them (and the Washington TWS) into the future!"

PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEW 2026 ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS!

Glen Kalisz, Vice President

 Grace Barthelmess, Secretary

 Jenn Lang, Board Member

Mike McDaniel, Board Member

For more details and bios for each newly elected board member 
please visit our leadership team webpage HERE.