Field Inclusive, Inc.

Field Inclusive Intern Reflection: A Year of Growth, Access, and Impact

GRACE ALBERTSON

I can hardly believe that my year-long journey as a Social Media and Communications Intern with Field Inclusive (FI) is coming to an end.

When I began this internship, my goal was simple: to learn how to use social media more effectively for outreach. What I’m leaving with is so much more. Over the past twelve months, I’ve grown in confidence, deepened my understanding of DEI work, strengthened my digital literacy, and developed as a workshop facilitator.

I am incredibly grateful to the entire Field Inclusive team and Conservation Nation for this experience. A special thank you to Lauren Pharr for her mentorship and support throughout this journey. She provided the professional guidance I needed to grow, and I truly could not have asked for a better mentor in this field.

As I look ahead, I’m excited to graduate this May with a B.S. in Zoology, along with minors in Wildlife Science and Environmental Education. This internship has been the perfect bridge to my next chapter, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to contribute to such an important mission.

My internship with Field Inclusive has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I’ve had the opportunity to grow from working behind the scenes on digital projects to representing the organization in professional, in-person spaces, all while learning what it truly takes to make the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for marginalized communities in the natural sciences.

One of the highlights of my experience was representing FI in multiple professional settings, especially at the Science for All Summit. I developed and presented a poster focused on the shift from traditional “Universal Training” to a Universal Design approach, emphasizing proactive, equitable field safety practices. I also contributed to Field Inclusive Week by writing scripts, organizing moderator bios, and developing discussion questions to support workshop flow. I even had the opportunity to facilitate breakout group discussions and represent FI on a panel for Kathryn Stevenson’s graduate-level course, where I shared our mission with students.

In addition to event-based work, I supported FI’s digital presence. Using Canva, I created social media content for holidays, events, and grant award announcements. I also gained experience with WordPress, drafting website content such as news releases for new board members and award recipients. A particularly meaningful task was adding alt text to images across the website, helping ensure accessibility for individuals who use screen readers.

I also gained insight into the funding side of nonprofit work by helping evaluate research grant proposals. Using a structured rubric, I assessed applications while also considering broader impacts, such as which projects most needed support and which applicants demonstrated strong long-term potential.

To support FI’s continued growth, I contributed to foundational projects like developing a brand guide (including colors and fonts) and compiling data for the 2024 Executive Summary.

Overall, this internship allowed me to engage in meaningful, real-world work that contributes to making the natural sciences more inclusive and accessible. I am proud of what I’ve learned, grateful for the people I’ve worked with, and excited to carry these experiences forward into my future career.