Hello!
My name is Rachel Palmer, and I’m super excited to be working as a Difference Maker Mentor for the 2025-2026 NRCA Conservation Ambassador Program (CAP). I was born and raised in central Maine. I am entering my junior year this fall, majoring in Natural Resources with a minor in Environmental Health and Safety.
I am passionate about both education and the environment. Growing up in a rural area, I spent most of my time outside. My childhood was defined by the changing seasons, especially the harsh New England winters. Around 2020, I started to notice that the winter weather I had grown up with was changing; the mountains of snow that once covered my town had been replaced by freezing rain and abnormally warm temperatures. This moment sparked my interest in environmental science, leading me to devote my future to bettering this planet.
After graduating, I plan to attend either graduate school or veterinary school. My ultimate career goal is to work for a federal agency in fisheries and wildlife conservation or management. Later in my career, I hope to return to school to earn a degree in education in order to teach high school biology. Through both research and teaching, I aspire to make a meaningful difference: mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders and contributing to the protection of our planet.
This summer, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in my home state. The hatchery helps conserve the last remaining natural populations of Atlantic salmon in the US. During my time volunteering, I collected blood and tissue samples from the fish to keep track of the remaining endangered species out in the wild.
Through this experience, I was able to learn more about making a difference through conservation, the federal employment system, and the techniques of aquaculture.
In the summer, I stay busy coaching high school lacrosse, teaching swim lessons to individuals of all ages, and taking trips to the beach. On campus, I teach undergraduate and graduate swim lessons at the UConn Recreation Center and volunteer with the Red Cross Club. Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking, making jewelry, playing sports, reading, and going to concerts. My favorite concert I have attended is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour!
