Kaggie Orrick‘s journey in conservation traces back to her semester abroad with Round River in the fall of 2008 in Namibia. During this experience, she was exposed to various conservation initiatives, including assisting with Save the Rhino Trust projects, conducting Ximenia (sour plum) transects, and participating in mapping exercises to understand wildlife movements. It was during this time that Kaggie first recognized the intricate dynamics of human-wildlife interactions.
After graduating from Colby College, Kaggie used the skills from Round River and was able to apply them to a small research station in South Africa on a private game reserve. She conducted small mammal trapping and reptile surveys on an isolated mountain in the Drakensberg mountain range, while simultaneously conducting large carnivore feeding ecology. She returned to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree at Columbia University.
Serendipitously, Kaggie’s path intersected with Round River again when the organization was seeking a Botswana Program Leader. From 2015 to 2018, she served in this role, not only managing the abroad program but also contributing to the Community-Based Wildlife Monitoring Program. This experience not only solidified her commitment to conservation but also prompted her to question academic approaches to applied conservation.
Motivated to better represent diverse voices in conservation, Kaggie embarked on a journey to pursue a PhD at the Yale School of the Environment. Throughout her doctoral studies, she maintained a partnership with Round River Conservation Studies, drawing inspiration from her experiences as a Program Leader while executing her doctoral research in the Makgadikgadi region of Botswana. She was supported and guided with the never-ending spirit and knowledge of Cosmos Rathipana and Dix Kedikilwe. Her dissertation integrated participatory mapping, camera trapping, and semi-structured interviews – methodologies she initially encountered during her time as a student in Namibia. She successfully defended her dissertation in March and is excited to see what comes next!
Congratulations Dr. Orrick!!
