Our educators have B.S. or M.Sc. degrees in wildlife biology or a related field, making them knowledgeable about the fundamentals of scientific fields. In addition, they are well-versed in contemporary issues related to wildlife biology, wildlife and range management, and natural resource conservation. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. For more information on our education programs, please contact one of our educators.
Sarah Wood, M.Sc.
Education and Outreach Manager
Sarah Wood is the Education and Outreach Manager for the Welder Wildlife Foundation. She is originally from Natchitoches, Louisiana and earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from LSU. She volunteered as an English teacher in the Marshall Islands for a year with the non-profit WorldTeach, worked in a fishery in Alaska, and taught in the public school system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a few years before finding her way into the field of environmental education. Since then, she has worked as a naturalist and educator at the Prairie Park Nature Center (in Lawrence, Kansas), Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, the Sax-Zim Bog, and Lake Superior Zoo (all in Duluth, Minnesota). Sarah earned a Master of Science in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Environmental Education and Interpretation from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she was a graduate assistant at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station. In this role, she served as Summer Camp Director and Program Director for two years, providing outdoor programming for local youth and mentoring college students beginning their careers as environmental educators. During this time, she also served on the board of the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society and on the UWSP Bird Strike Prevention Team. Her thesis research was a qualitative study focusing on the influences, motivations, and behaviors of young adult birders. Sarah is passionate about the natural world and educating people of all ages and backgrounds on the value of connecting with, appreciating, and conserving the environment. In her free time, she enjoys birding, baking, playing the guitar and singing, reading, going on road trips, and exploring the outdoors with her dog, Banjo.
Email me: swood@welderwildlife.org
Taylor Zamora
Conservation Educator
Taylor is a Conservation Educator at the Welder Wildlife Foundation. Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Rather than following a traditional internship path, she undertook a research project exploring salinity’s effects on the migration patterns of wintering Redhead ducks along the Laguna Madre. In addition to her research, Taylor is an active member of the Friends of Redhead Pond, an organization focused on public education and the restoration and maintenance of vital habitats for both native and migratory wildlife. Her primary passion lies in educating the next generation about the importance of wildlife and conservation. In her free time, Taylor enjoys hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and traveling.
Email me: tzamora@welderwildlife.org
Sarah Failla
Conservation Educator
Sarah is a Conservation Educator for the Welder Wildlife Foundation. She was born and raised in a town named Big Spring in West Texas, leading her to attend Texas Tech University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources Management in 2018. Upon graduation, her career started with an internship position as the Conservation Educator at the Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation from 2019 to 2022. After this chapter came to a close, she pursued a career in marine science as an Education Specialist for the Bay Education Center that is affiliated with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. She is excited to come back to the terrestrial side of things and help educate people of all ages on the importance of conserving our natural resources for future generations to come. Her hobbies include spending time with her daughter, spending time outdoors with her when she can, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, and scrapbooking.
Email me: conservationeducator@welderwildlife.org
Laken Mize
Social Media Specialist
Laken is our Social Media Specialist from Montgomery, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Science in Forestry with an emphasis on Wildlife Management degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. There, she served as the vice president of the SFASU Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society and was active in the Society of American Foresters and Ducks Unlimited. She is currently a graduate student at Texas Tech University in the Department of Natural Resource Management. She enjoys many outdoor hobbies, such as hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. Her main passion is educating the public about the importance of conservation principles and the active management of our habitats to ensure it is around for future generations to come.
welderwildlife.org 