Embarking on a career in conservation and leadership

By Elena Mathern, BS ‘25, Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management

Recent CFANS alum Trey Feuerhelm has started off his career by making an impact in conservation and environmental policy. As an administrative officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Midwest Regional Office, Feuerhelm plays a key role in supporting leadership, managing projects, and ensuring smooth operations that help protect natural resources and wildlife.

Where conservation meets action

At the USFWS, Feuerhelm facilitates fieldwork, coordinates major projects, and supports regional leadership personnel. His role as an administrator allows him to see firsthand how conservation efforts take shape and how policy decisions influence environmental management. “I support the leadership team for our region, so I get to see a high-level component in all of the issues, all of the work, and all of the internal operations for our region,” said Feuerhelm. He’s also discovered that many of his coworkers at the agency are also connected to CFANS, which has helped him network with new colleagues. 

Feuerhelm primarily works in the Bloomington, Minnesota, office, but he occasionally has opportunities to explore the region he supports. Last year, he surveyed bats in Sodalis Nature Preserve in Hannibal, Missouri. The area was formerly a limestone mine and is now protected as a city park. During winter, over 220,000 endangered bats hibernate in the cave.

Feuerhelm’s passion for connecting people to the outdoors is a driving force in his career. He believes that nature plays a crucial role in public health, the economy, and overall well-being, a topic he investigated for his honors thesis as a CFANS student. As he continues to learn how policy impacts conservation, he is gaining insight into how government decisions shape land and resource management.

Finding a niche in CFANS

Growing up, Feuerhelm was always curious about how things worked. His parents thought he might grow up to be an engineer or a mathematician, but those careers didn’t resonate with him. Through scouting, Feuerhelm found his love of the outdoors, and things began to click. He recalls asking questions: “How does nature work? How does it function? What is ecology? That is really where it meshed. I want to figure out how these things work.” 

That line of questioning led him to the University of Minnesota to study environmental science. Initially, Feuerhelm enrolled in the College of Biological Science, but he found his niche in CFANS when he discovered the Forest and Natural Resource Management major. 

One of Feuerhelm’s most memorable coursework was taught by Ingrid Schneider, a faculty member in the Department of Forest Resources, who helped solidify his understanding of how natural resources and public land management intersect with social and political factors. “She was certainly one of the most impactful professors I had, and it was mostly through her classes that I connected with her,” said Feuerhelm.  ”She was so supportive in helping me find my own passions and succeed.”

Outside the classroom, Feuerhelm found opportunities to broaden his experience in conservation and policy. For three consecutive summers, he held seasonal positions in National Parks across the country: Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, and Acadia National Park in Maine. During his senior year, Feuerhelm interned in Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office, combining policy knowledge with his natural resource interests.

Growing while staying connected

Reflecting on his college years, Feuerhelm sees how all of the opportunities he took advantage of led him to develop skills and connections that have shaped the person and professional he is today. 

Feuerhelm stays engaged with CFANS. Last year, he volunteered with CFANS at the Minnesota State Fair– the exhibit's emphasis on fish and fresh water ecology research was a perfect fit for his background and current role! He also served as a mentor in the CFANS Mentor Program. 

Professionally, he plans to stay connected with CFANS to recruit new interns and staff members to the USFWS when opportunities arise; students may even see him at a future career fair! His journey demonstrates that a CFANS education and the willingness to take on interesting opportunities can lead to a career in conservation, policy, and public service.