From tracking turtles…
My first career focused on conservation biology, with an emphasis on the physiological and spatial ecology of turtles.
After graduating from Drexel University, I worked as a field assistant researching sea turtles in Greece and the Caribbean, before joining the Spatial Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
…to technical trainer.
While developing GIS and Spatial Ecology trainings for conservation biology professionals and graduate students at SCBI, I discovered a passion for creating engaging training materials to help students learn new skills.
Since then, I have worked on trainings for both federal and state governments on topics such as soil remediation to implementing validation software for emergency service data.
I completed the Instructional Design MasterTrackTM Certificate through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2022.
Outside of the office…
I can be found volunteering with Beagle Rescue, Education, and Welfare (BREW), or as a civilian scientist with the Virginia Master Naturalists.
My beagle, Bodhi, and I love taking walks around Northern Virginia. His favorite places to go for a walk include Theodore Roosevelt Island and Old Town Alexandria (especially near restaurants where people are prone to drop food).
Carolyn Kupec 