Katherine Evers ’28 has always known she wants to work with wildlife. But rather than pursuing a career as a wildlife biologist, she sees herself educating others about animals and conservation, whether at a museum, aquarium or nonprofit organization.

When she first came to Framingham State, Evers enrolled as a Wildlife Biology major. She soon realized, however, that the intensive science requirements were geared toward a different career path than the one she envisioned.

“Those are great for people interested in getting certified as a wildlife biologist, but that is not what I am looking to do,” Evers says. “I want to be an educator. I would love to work at a museum or nonprofit doing public outreach.”

That's when she connected with Dr. Kelly Matthews, who oversees FSU's Individualized Studies Concentration. Designed for students whose career interests don't fit neatly into a single academic discipline, the concentration allows students to build an academic plan by combining coursework from different fields.

For Evers, that means bringing together her interest in wildlife and biology with courses in communication and writing - subjects that will help her share her knowledge, engage audiences and make wildlife education her career.

“People have a misconception with this major that you're dabbling here, there and everywhere,” Evers says. “But really what I am doing is picking and choosing exactly what will serve me the best, while giving myself a broad foundation.”

She's already putting that education into practice. Evers has completed two internships, one at the New England Aquarium in Boston and another at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on Cape Cod. Both have helped her explore the many ways she can turn her interest in wildlife into a career focused on public education and outreach.

“I'm learning that there are a lot of job opportunities that go with this public education pathway,” Evers says. “I would not have been aware of that if FSU hadn't shown me the way and helped me prepare.”