Elizabeth Brennan: Outstanding Graduating Student 

Elizabeth Brennan of West Chester, Pennsylvania, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. She is a wildlife ecology major and member of the Honors College, through which she wrote a thesis titled “Phenological changes in Arctic and Common Terns across Maine’s coastal islands.” While attending the University of Maine, Brennan monitored and collected data on island seabirds for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and performed abroad as a member of University Singers. After graduating, she plans to work as a shorebird steward in Massachusetts before pursuing her master’s in a wildlife-related field. 

Why did you choose to come to UMaine?

I was initially attracted to UMaine because of its natural beauty and its proximity to both the wilderness and the coast. However, it was a combination of rave reviews of the wildlife department and the University’s R1 status that really sold me in the end.

Describe any research, internships or scholarly pursuits in which you have participated. How have they prepared you for future opportunities in your chosen field?

The summer before my senior year, I lived and worked on Metinic Island for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where I was responsible for monitoring a seabird colony and collecting reproductive data on terns, guillemots, eiders and storm-petrels. Not only did this opportunity give me early experience working with a federal agency — which is my long-term career goal, it also provided me with the data that I used for my honors thesis.

Have there been other students who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new?

I have been friends with the same group of people since my very first semester of college, and they too are studying in environmental fields. To this day, they continue to inspire me with their knowledge and unwavering curiosity of the natural world, and they have never failed to support me through all of my hardships and achievements. I am incredibly grateful and honored to call them my friends.

Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at UMaine better, and if so, how?

I would be nothing without the mentorship and encouragement of principal lecturer Lindsay Seward. She saw my potential and fostered it by allowing me to serve as her teaching assistant, acting as an excellent reference for jobs that she has encouraged me to apply for and by providing me with some much-needed life advice. My thesis advisor, Brian Olsen, has also deeply influenced me as a researcher by challenging me on a regular basis, keeping me sane through unexpected roadblocks and by inspiring me daily with his dedication and love for ornithology.

What has coming to UMaine enabled you to explore beyond academics?

Coming to UMaine has allowed me to continue my passion for vocal performance. I am a proud member of University Singers, the university’s premier choir, which I have been a part of for the past four years. Joining singers has not only made me a better performer, it has taken me to heights I never imagined I could reach, like singing at masses in the Vatican and Venice during our 2023 concert tour of Italy.

What experiences have you had at UMaine that really highlight the ingenuity of Mainers?

The wildlife department at UMaine has opened my eyes to the world of wetland conservation. They have involved students in projects like the Orono Bog Boardwalk, the restoration of Taylor Bait Farm, and Maine Big Night, which are all perfect examples of the cleverness and dedication of Mainers working to achieve a common conservation goal.

Did you have an experience at UMaine that shaped or changed how you see the world?

Recent political developments have particularly emphasized to me the importance of community. Our department has been making an active effort to help students navigate them. These small acts of kindness have helped me realize that although my field can be competitive, we’re really all in this together, and must continue to uplift each other.

Describe UMaine in one word and explain.

Limitless. 

UMaine has granted me opportunities that I never envisioned for myself as a high school senior. Between all the organizations, clubs, and committees, the possibilities for campus involvement are endless, and you can truly never predict where they might lead you! I like to think of UMaine as a parental figure who always emphasizes that you can be whatever you want to be! All you have to do to make it come true is believe it.

What’s on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?

After I graduate, I will be working on Tuckernuck Island in Massachusetts as a shorebird steward, where I will be responsible for monitoring nesting populations of least terns, American oystercatchers, and endangered piping plovers. In the coming years, I anticipate moving out west to earn my master’s degree in a wildlife-related field.

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu