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Rachel McShane, MS
Personal Statement
I have always been fascinated by the complex behavioral repertoire and cognitive capabilities of primates. I had originally set out to study old—world monkeys and apes in the context of human evolutionary history, as an Anthropologist. Though I continue to find questions of cognitive capacity and social complexity in primate communities fascinating, I have developed an even deeper personal commitment to the preservation of these amazing animals. Thus, I shifted my focus to understanding primates as part of a broader ecological framework. I am also interested in working with indigenous peoples to create land—management plans that are economically feasible yet still afford the greatest possible level of protection to the inhabitants of neighboring forests. My academic focus was on human—wildlife conflict, specifically, crop—raiding primates around Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. Conservation efforts in protected areas are unlikely to be successful if local stakeholders are unsupportive or antagonistic towards those efforts. It is essential to understand the relationship between local peoples and endangered primates that may cause conflicts; it is also essential that those involved with park management are informed of specific threats farmers face.
Relevant Experience
St. Charles Community College
Adjunct Professor
Fall 2008—Present
Professional Environmental Engineers, Inc.
Environmental Scientist/Junior Engineer
Fall 2006—Present
NH Army National Guard
Pollution Prevention Intern
Concord, NH
Fall—Spring 2005 and 2006
Earthwatch Institute
Education Department Intern
Maynard, MA
Summer 2005
Center for Biodiversity and Conservation of the American Museum of Natural History
Reviewer for Conservation Biology Teaching Modules
Keene, NH
Spring 2003
Banfield the Pet Hospital
Assistant Veterinary Nurse
Brentwood, MO
Summer 2002
Balinese Macaque Project
Student Researcher (Macaque behavioral ecology)
Bali, Indonesia
Summer 2001
St. Louis Zoo
Research Department and Jungle of the Apes Intern
St. Louis, MO
Summer 2000
Humane Society
Missouri's Large Animal Rehabilitation Center
Volunteer (caretaker)
Union, MO
Summer 1999
Humane Society of Missouri
Volunteer (pet adoptions counselor)
Macklind Animal Shelter, St. Louis, MO
Summer 1999
Education
Antioch University New England
MS 2008
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA
Bachelor of Arts, May 2002
Major: Anthropology
Minor: Biology
Cumulative GPA: 3.677
Major GPA: 3.888
Cum Laude
Honors in Major
Academic Distinction
Claire-Sherwood Scholar
Honors/Grants
- Pittsburgh Zoo Conservation Fund - $1850 toward thesis research (2007 awardee)
- American Society of Primatologists - $1500 toward thesis research (2006 awardee)
- Primate Conservation, Inc. - $1000 toward thesis research (2006 awardee)
- Antioch University New England Scholarship 2005
- Semi-Finalist for Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Conservation Fund 2006
Travel/Language Experience
Bali, Indonesia
Five weeks using basic Bahasa Indonesian
Summer 2001
Tijuana, Mexico
Helped build a 4-room house for a poor family in association with Amor Ministries
Spring 2000
American Sign Language
Eight week course at Meremac Community College
Summer 2000
St. Louis - Toulouse French Exchange Program
Spring 1997
Four Years of French Language Study
Kirkwood High School
1994—1998
Leadership/Technology/Publication Skills
Community Learning Center Coordinator
Kirkwood R-7 School District
2003—2004
Technology Specialist
Kirkwood R-7 School District
2003—2004
President of FACE - Feminists Advocating Change and Empowerment
Whitman College
2001—2002
Layout Editor and Poetry Selection Editor
Blue Moon, Whitman's art and literary magazine
1998—2000
Editor-in-Chief
The Source, a Whitman publication distributed to all incoming freshman
Spring 1999
National Youth Leadership Conference
Served as caucus leader for my mock-caucus group
Washington D.C.
Fall 1997
Infographics Editor
The Call, Kirkwood's High School newspaper
1997—1998
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