Dragonfly participates in #MoveInMiami 2023

Today is Miami's annual day of giving, #MoveInMiami. Each year, we celebrate the incoming class while providing important support for the programs that mean the most to us. We hope you'll consider a donation today in support of conservation action and of Dragonfly's program-wide commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Thank you! Give to Dragonfly's DEI scholarships

Happy retirement, Marcia!

We're saying goodbye and happy retirement to Marcia Nantz, who after more than 17 years of service to Dragonfly and Miami University, is retiring! For more than a decade, she has taken care of Dragonfly's accounting and financial needs, and has also been the go-to travel expert. She has purchased hundreds of flights for EE instructors, worked on hiring logistics for our instructional teams, and assisted countless students with questions related to billing, financial aid, and payments. Her dedication and hard work have left an indelible impression on everyone fortunate enough to have crossed paths with her.

"I explored the effects of volcanoes and picked up trash along the ocean in Hawaii," said Marcia. "I saw leaf cutter ants in Costa Rica and then showed the leaf cutter exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo to my grandchildren, telling them about my experience in the rainforest. I've spoken with people from all over the U.S. and around the world who are trying to make the world a better place, and I've worked with students who are doing the same."

Marcia and her husband, Ed, look forward to traveling, spending more time with their grandchildren, and creating new memories. Thank you so much, Marcia -- we wish you a retirement journey that brings fulfillment in every way!

Dragonfly graduate writes children's book, teaches the world about gorillas

AIP graduate Brenda Scott Royce '23 of Glendale, California, published a book, "Angela & Lulingu: Two Gorillas, a World Apart," about two young gorillas – one in Los Angeles and the other in the heart of Africa. "Angela is a western lowland gorilla who lives with her family at the Los Angeles Zoo. Orphaned as an infant, Lulingu is a Grauer's gorilla who lives at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center, a sanctuary for gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Though their stories are different, the two have much in common–and a lot to teach the world about what makes gorillas so special" and why we should care about gorillas and their future. Read more

Clockwise from top left, Levinson, Tanis, Dale, Lees, and Young

Dragonfly students awarded scholarships from Miami's Biology Department and CSDI

Congratulations to our fall 2023 scholarship winners! GFP student Ginger Levinson of Nashville, Tennessee, and AIP student Katy Tanis of Mantoloking, New Jersey, were awarded the Charley Harper Scholarship. Administered by Miami's Biology Department, this scholarship supports under/graduate students in the biological sciences who demonstrate a talent and interest in the arts.

Levinson was also the recipient of the Miami University Family Fund Study Abroad Grant. Administered by Miami University's Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI), this grant supports and enhances the Miami Experience and is made possible through the private support of Miami families.

GFP students Amanda Dale of Seattle, Washington, and Annalei Lees of Mill Creek, Washington, and AIP student Skye Young of Denver, Colorado, were awarded the W. Hardy Eshbaugh- T.K. Wilson Scholarship in Botany. The Biology Department administers this scholarship, which supports under/graduate students participating in globally-relevant botanical or conservation projects.

Since 2009, Dragonfly students have been awarded more than $30,000 in scholarship funds. Read more

AIP advisor selected as a global mentor by CoalitionWILD

Our friend and AIP advisor Molly Maloy has been selected as a 2023 global mentor by CoalitionWILD, an environmental conservation organization focused on creating lasting youth leadership for the planet. As a global mentor, Maloy will connect with young environmental leaders — co-learning and co-creating throughout a six-month program. Maloy, who has been with the AIP since it began at Denver Zoo in 2012, has worked for 20+ years in the fields of Conservation Education and Community Engagement at Denver Zoo. Read more

Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Longtime partner achieves level IV arboretum accreditation

Our long-time partners at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) recently became the world's only arboretum with a zoo to achieve Level IV accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and Morton Arboretum. The Arboretum Accreditation Program establishes and shares a widely recognized set of industry standards for the purpose of unifying the arboretum community. No other international program of accreditation exists that is specific to arboreta. And listing in the Morton Register of Arboreta means that the CZBG is part of a database of organizations around the world that display trees, shrubs, and other woody plants for the benefit of the public, science, and conservation. Read more

International Golden Lion Tamarin Day is held annually on August 2. GFP graduate Kristin Molle of Seaside, California, is pictured here with golden lion tamarins in Brazil's Atlantic rain forest.

Our Brazil partners celebrate Golden Lion Tamarin Day



August 2 was International Golden Lion Tamarin Day (GLT). Learn how our EE Brazil course partners at Associação Mico-Leão Dourado and Save the Golden Lion Tamarin celebrated GLT Day and continue in their role as GLT crusaders. Read more