Students
The conservation leaders of tomorrow, but why not get involved and make a difference today!?
NDCTWS Student Liaisons
Jessica Kading, NDSU
Jessica was raised in Sioux Falls, SD, and graduated in 2021 from South Dakota State University with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Growing up in a city setting, Jessica comes from a more non-traditional background, and spent her younger years as a dancer and cheerleader. However, as she progresses further into the field, she makes sure to find time to learn about important hands-on skills, the hobbies of her fellow peers, and the cultures of the regions she wishes to work in. Currently, she enjoys riding her horse Lily, crewing for hot air balloon teams, birding, hunting, and snowboarding. Jessica has worked as a technician in both South Dakota and Alabama, helping to control wildlife damage, respond to injured wildlife calls, and conduct research on North American river otters, pheasants, deer, bald eagles, Canada geese, and eastern wild turkeys. As an M.S. student at North Dakota State University, Jessica continues to develop an interest in human-wildlife conflict, and she currently works with North Dakota sunflower producers to study the effects of extended drone hazing on blackbird and raptor behavior. Jessica feels that the most important part of working with wildlife is learning to work with people, and she is looking forward to serving as one of the Co-Student Liaisons for the NDCTWS.
Levin Brandt, UND
Levin grew up in New Prague, MN on a small hobby farm. He has enjoyed the outdoors since an early age, getting involved in all the activities nature has to offer. He will be completing his BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology at the University of North Dakota spring 2024. Then furthering his education in the accelerated Biology non thesis MS program which he will complete in spring 2025. For the entirety of his time as a student he has been working in Dr. Susan Felege's lab on bird strike studies at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and Grand Forks Airport. After completing his education, he plans to be a part of the Palace Acquire program with the Air Force Civilian Service. With the completion of the program, he will be placed in a permanent position as a Department of Defense Natural Resources Manager working for the Civil Engineering Department. He is excited to serve as a co-student liaison of the NDCTWS to help improve the mentorship program making the state more connected with those who are next in line.
Bonnie Thompson, UJ
Hello! I am Bonnie Thompson. I grew up just outside of Dickinson ND. I am pursuing my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Jamestown where I plan to graduate in May of 2025. I am also pursuing a minor in environmental science where I am working hard on bridging the gap between the industrial sector and the wildlife sector. I grew up in a rural setting enjoying all what North Dakota and the Midwest has to offer. I grew up hunting, fishing, and helping out farms around the area. I am the vice president of the UJ student chapter of the wildlife society and currently serve as the head greenhouse manager. Most of the work I have tried to do is to establish a connection and provide education between the community and our natural environment. I am very proud and excited to serve as one of the co-student liaisons for the NDCTWS. I plan to spend my summer in Churchill MB, aiding with research under the Hudson Bay project and studying a bio-neutral trapping mechanism for banding tree swallows.
