Leadership and Career Development
The College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences offers students opportunities to cultivate their leadership and career development through interview training, resume-building and e-portfolio workshops, seminars and career fairs, and other activities designed to allow students to recognize and build their capacities, skills, and aptitudes while enhancing their professional networks.
Students gain invaluable leadership skills and training through their participation in student-led clubs and organizations. As members, students learn how to work with others to solve problems and make decisions. Within leadership roles they gain the capacity to plan, organize, and prioritize group activities to achieve goals and objectives; while learning to conduct themselves professionally. These enriching experiences provide students with a more meaningful connection with their peers, the school, and the broader Auburn community that will help them to be more successful in life and their future careers.
Established in 2019, the Forest, Environment, Wildlife (FEWL) Academy prepares select students with leadership abilities necessary for the critical problem-solving of issues related to the management, utilization, and stewardship of natural resources. In addition to classroom lectures, to aid in their experiential learning during the two-semester course, students interface with a range of leadership and private industry executives, as well as policy makers in Montgomery and Washington, D.C. Each year, 12 to 15 outstanding applicants are selected to participate in the FEWL Academy. Qualified students in good academic standing with an interest in developing leadership skills are invited to apply.
To prepare students for future careers, we provide opportunities for students to gain valuable skills through mock interviews, resume-building and e-portfolio training, professional development workshops, and other leadership and career development activities. The college also hosts a seminar series where students engage and network with professionals in their chosen career field to learn about natural resource-related occupations, expectations, and desired job skills.
We encourage students to complete internships as part of their academic development. Internships provide students with real-world learning opportunities that help them to apply their knowledge, shape their career objectives, develop jobs skills, and earn tangible work experience. These benefits contribute to building a student’s confidence and becoming more competitive in the job market after graduation. Through its robust network of alumni and stakeholders, the school provides students with abundant opportunities to secure internships, which often lead to future employment opportunities.
Our graduates find diverse job opportunities within public agencies, government, private corporations, consulting firms, NGOs and other international organizations. These employers actively recruit Auburn students and recent alumni for internships and job opportunities. During the school’s annual career fair, students have opportunities to learn about potential careers, network with professionals, and apply and/or interview with companies for potential jobs and internships within natural resource-focused businesses and agencies.
