Our Alumni Make an Impact
Alumni Showcase
East Foundation alumni have gone on to become leaders in conservation, ranching, and natural resource management across Texas and beyond, applying their hands-on research experience to solve real-world challenges in land stewardship and wildlife conservation.
Amanda Veals
Amanda Veals is an Arizona native who grew up exploring the Sonoran Desert. She discovered her calling in wildlife conservation after initially pursuing biochemistry at the University of Arizona, where she later completed both her B.S. and M.S., studying gray fox ecology and rabies management. She then earned her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, researching endangered ocelot conservation and road mortality mitigation alongside East Foundation researchers, before accepting a postdoctoral position at Sul Ross State University’s Borderlands Research Institute. She now leads carnivore research, mentors graduate students and credits her success in balancing conservation with landowner concerns to her experience with the Foundation.
Max Sergeyev
Max Sergeyev was born in Belarus and raised in Chicago. He developed a passion for outdoor wildlife through hiking trips with his father in the western United States, which led him to pursue a career in wildlife ecology. After earning his undergraduate degree in chemistry and ecology from the University of Illinois and spending a year in the field, he completed a master’s at Brigham Young University studying elk in Utah, followed by a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he researched habitat use and coexistence patterns of ocelots, bobcats, and coyotes through GPS tracking, LiDAR technology, and thermal sensor analysis.
Mathew Kramm
Mathew Kramm is a San Antonio native raised with military family values. He began his academic journey studying public health at the University of Texas at San Antonio before earning his M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, where he researched ivermectin use in white-tailed deer feed for cattle fever tick control on East Foundation’s El Sauz. Now completing his Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Texas A&M, Kramm credits his formative research experience at the Foundation, where he worked alongside his father, enabling him to bridge the connection between animal and human health in his study of infectious diseases.
Megan Granger
Megan Granger grew up throughout Texas and southern Louisiana and pursued her passion for wildlife by earning her B.S. and M.S. in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She worked on multiple research projects alongside East Foundation studying ocelots, white-tailed deer, and notably, nilgai population demographics and habitat use on El Sauz. Now serving as a Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife in San Saba County, Texas, Granger credits her success to the diverse research opportunities and skills she developed while working on the Foundation’s expansive South Texas ranches.
Jacob Dykes
Jacob Dykes grew up hunting and fishing in Amory, Mississippi, and turned his outdoor passions into a career by earning his B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University. He studied deer behavior and diet preferences before completing his Ph.D. in Wildlife Sciences at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, conducting research with East Foundation on heat’s influence on deer and cattle behavior. Now an assistant professor in Texas A&M University’s Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management department and extension wildlife specialist, Jacob leads applied wildlife research and knowledge transfer to landowners, crediting the Foundation’s extensive ranches and conservation values for providing unique research opportunities.
Dillan Drabek
Dillian Drabek was raised on a small ranch near Schulenburg, Texas, and discovered his career path through an FFA wildlife contest that led to a summer job with East Foundation. He worked alongside us throughout his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Range and Wildlife Management at Texas A&M-Kingsville, studying grazing effects on forbs and plant species richness while gaining extensive experience in wildlife monitoring, prescribed burning, and animal captures. Now working as a USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist in Victoria, Texas, Dillian applies the land stewardship and conservation principles he learned during his years at the Foundation to help landowners improve their grazing and wildlife management practices.
Where are they now?
Graduate Student and Post-Doctoral Alumni
Jose Silverio Avila-Sanchez
Project Affiliation:
Land Stewardship & Management, Carrying Capacity
Where Are They Now:
Assistant Professor and Extension Range Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife
Madeline T. Barham
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Graduate Student with Texas A&M University
Jeremy A. Baumgardt
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Wildlife Biologist at Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Helen T. Davis
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Ecologist at Colorado State University
Dillan J. Drabek
Project Affiliation:
Land Stewardship & Management, Carrying Capacity
Where Are They Now:
Rangeland Management Specialist at Junction Service Center with USDA NRCS
Jacob L. Dykes
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Center at Corpus Christi
Rachel R. Fern
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Statewide Wetland Program Leader with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Aaron Foley
Project Affiliation:
Game Species Management, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Research Scientist and Assistant Professor of Research with Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Justin T. French
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Biology
Where Are They Now:
Big Game Specialist and Post-Doctoral Research Scientist at Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University
Aleyda P. Galán
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Environmental Specialist with SWCA Environmental Consultants
Megan M. Granger
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Faith O. Hardin
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Program Manager at University of Montana
Victoria L. Haynes
Project Affiliation:
Land Stewardship & Management, Carrying Capacity
Where Are They Now:
Biologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife
Stacy Linn Hines
Project Affiliation:
Land Stewardship & Management, Carrying Capacity
Where Are They Now:
Assistant Professor and Extension Habitat Management Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Miranda L. Hopper
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Graduate Student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Tyson J. Johnson
Project Affiliation:
Livestock Production & Ranch Management, Livestock Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
General Manager at Sooner Cattle Company
Allison Kohler
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
USDA: NWRC Research Scientist
Jennifer M. Korn
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Wildlife Biologist at Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Ana Krainyk
Project Affiliation:
Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Research Ecologist at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center for United States Geological Survey
Samantha Leivers
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
State Bat Specialist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
John P. Leonard
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Senior Data Scientist with Oak Street Health
Maia L. Lipschutz
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Invasive Species Biologist at the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands
Jason V. Lombardi
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Carnivore Research Coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Lindsay Martinez
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Research Program Coordinator at East Foundation
Andrea Montalvo
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Research Scientist & Hebbronville Site Director at East Foundation
Janel L. Ortiz
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Assistant Professor for the Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the Department of Biology at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Alexis R. Pence
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Research Associate for the Natural Resources Institute at Texas A&M University
Kylie Perez
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Research Associate with Texas A&M University
Mary K. Peterson
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Assistant Big Game Ecologist at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
John P. Pistone
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Research Biologist at International Crane Foundation
Seth T. Rankins
Project Affiliation:
Land Stewardship & Management, Carrying Capacity
Where Are They Now:
Graduate Student at University of Wyoming
Ashley Reeves
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Research Veterinarian at East Foundation
Michaela F. Rice
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Summer Zoo Camp Educator and Llama Trek Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoo
Maksim Sergeyev
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Research Wildlife Biologist with Colorado State University
Maggie Sinner
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring
Where Are They Now:
Senior Technician with Environmental Consulting Technology, Inc.
Delanie E. Slifka
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Monitoring, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Biological Field Technician at Western EcoSystems Technology
Bryan D. Spencer
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Graduate Student at University of Idaho
Daniel R. Taylor
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Endangered Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Biological Science Technician at the Wildlife Genetics National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS-WS
Andrew Tri
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Management & Conservation, Game Species Management
Where Are They Now:
Wildlife Research Biologist for Forest Wildlife and Populations Research Group at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Amanda M. Veals-Dutt
Project Affiliation:
Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Research Associate at the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University
Gordon Wesley Watts III
Project Affiliation:
Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Wildlife Biologist at U.S. Forest Service
Abe Woodard
Project Affiliation:
Game Species Management, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Range & Wildlife Scientist at East Foundation
Rebecca R. Zerlin
Project Affiliation:
Land Stewardship & Management, Carrying Capacity
Where Are They Now:
Lab Manager with University of Minnesota
Lisa D. Zoromski
Project Affiliation:
Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Management & Conservation
Where Are They Now:
Wildlife Biologist at Five Rivers MetroParks Dayton, Ohio
Internship Participants
Logan Anthony
Ranch Management Intern
Foster Burchett
Ranch Management Intern
Rider Combs
Ranch Management Intern
Rachel Correia
Range and Wildlife Intern
Camryn Endler LeJeune
Ranch Management Intern
Molli Foxley
Ranch Management Intern
Samuel Free
Ranch Management Intern
Zane Herrin
Ranch Management Intern
Jake Hill
Ranch Management Intern
Austin Ingram
Ranch Management Intern
Zach Johnson
Ranch Management Intern
Dakota Kempken
Ranch Management Intern
Dalton Kretschmer
Ranch Management Intern
Ryan Lopez
Ranch Management Intern
Dru Lust
Ranch Management Intern
Lindsay Martinez
Range and Wildlife Intern
Cecilia Medina
Ranch Management Intern
Beau Navarre
Ranch Management Intern
Makaila Nowell
Ranch Management Intern
Will Oliver
Ranch Management Intern
Rachel Patterson
Range and Wildlife Intern
Darian Poles
Ranch Management Intern
Andrew Polk
Ranch Management Intern
Tracy Quintana
Education Intern
Jacob Ramos
Field Operations Intern
Alyssa Ramos
Ranch Management Intern
Shane Retzloff
Ranch Management Intern
Jayden Rios
Ranch Management Intern
Andrew Sharrick
Ranch Management Intern
Dante Sonaglia
Ranch Management Intern
Callie Jo Swaim
Ranch Management Intern
Gina Tran
Ranch Management Intern
John Turner
Ranch Management Intern
John Williams
Ranch Management Intern
Haley Winkler
Ranch Management Intern
Keaton Wiske
Ranch Management Intern
Science Technicians
Joshua Almaraz
Range and Wildlife Technician
Kianna Avila
Quail Technician
Wyatt Bagwell
Range and Wildlife Technician
Kennedy Bailey
Range and Wildlife Technician
Alexander Bazaldua
Range and Wildlife Technician
Catalina Berry
Range and Wildlife Technician, Quail Technician, Lead Quail Technician
Brandon Billeck
Range and Wildlife Technician
Aidan Branney
Ocelot Technician
Sydney Bregman
Range and Wildlife Technician
Cameron Bright
Quail Technician
Anthony Cerda
Range and Wildlife Technician
Alex Chua
Quail Technician
Victor Cisneros
Quail Technician
Joey Cortez, Jr.
Range and Wildlife Technician
Jadzia Cruz
Range and Wildlife Technician
Zoe Dibble
Quail Technician
Alexandria DiMaggio
Range and Wildlife Technician
Brian Doherty
Monitoring Crew Lead
Ash Ehlers
Range and Wildlife Technician
Kalee Elliott
Range and Wildlife Technician
Ty Elliott
Range and Wildlife Technician
Colleen Farrell
Ocelot Technician
Kurtis Fisher
Range and Wildlife Technician
Alyssa Freeman
Range and Wildlife Technician
Ashley Garcia
Quail Technician
Katie Greene
Range and Wildlife Technician
McKenzie Hagenbuch
Quail Technician
James Harrington
Range and Wildlife Technician
Georgia Harris
Ocelot Technician
Kristin Hay
Range and Wildlife Technician
John E. Herschberger
Quail Technician
Justin Hoover
Range and Wildlife Technician
Anthony Jackson
Range and Wildlife Technician
Bradley Johnston
Range and Wildlife Technician
Caleb Lentz
Range and Wildlife Technician
Kevin Lovasik
Range and Wildlife Technician
José Mata
Range and Wildlife Technician
Csanyi Matusicky
Range and Wildlife Technician
Max Miraglia
Range and Wildlife Technician
Mark Miranda
Range and Wildlife Technician
Amanda Montemayor
Quail Technician
Laura Moreno
Range and Wildlife Technician
Meghan Murphy
Ocelot Technician
Jillian Newman
Range and Wildlife Technician
Logan Parr
Monitoring Crew Lead
Haylee Pearce
Ocelot Technician
Micayla E. Pearson
Range and Wildlife Technician, Quail Technician
Alexander Price
Range and Wildlife Technician
Michael Robidoux
Range and Wildlife Technician
Charlie Romanos
Range and Wildlife Technician
Lexie Romine
Range and Wildlife Technician
Andres Rosales
Quail Technician
Tifany Rubcala
Range and Wildlife Technician
Aubrey Rutz
Range and Wildlife Technician
Ramon Saenz III
Range and Wildlife Technician
Eve Schrader
Ocelot Technician
Taso Sdregas
Quail Technician
Emma Snelson
Quail Technician
Jessica Staggs
Range and Wildlife Technician
Emily Stanzel
Range and Wildlife Technician
Benjamin Strang
Range and Wildlife Technician
Noah Strugala
Quail Technician
Timothy Swain
Range and Wildlife Technician
Aidan Tautges
Lead Quail Technician
Vero Tessier
Range and Wildlife Technician
Copper Tidwell
Range and Wildlife Technician
Kate Underwood
Quail Technician
Marco Urive
Range and Wildlife Technician
Johnathan Velasquez
Range and Wildlife Technician
Trent Wilkinson
Range and Wildlife Technician
Erik Young
Range and Wildlife Technician
Emilio Zipf
Range and Wildlife Technician
Career Possibilities
Building Conservation Leaders
Where can you go after an internship, technician position, or as a graduate student with East Foundation? There are endless career possibilities in cattle operations, natural resource conservation, and education. We encourage our alumni to pursue opportunities in several related fields.
Ranching career Possibilities
- Ranch Manager – Oversees daily operations, planning, and strategic decisions for cattle and land management
- Livestock Specialist – Focuses on herd health, genetics, and production
- Range Management Specialist – Maintains grasslands and monitors grazing patterns
- Ranch Business Administrator – Handles financials, contracts, and business planning
- Facilities & Equipment Manager – Maintains infrastructure, equipment, and improvements
- Natural Resource Manager – Balances livestock, wildlife, and habitat needs
- Feed/Nutrition Specialist – Develops feeding programs and manages supplementation
Science career Possibilities
- Wildlife Biologist – Studies wildlife populations and habitat relationships
- Range Scientist – Researches grassland ecology and management strategies
- Conservation Biologist – Works on preserving species and habitats
- GIS Specialist – Maps and analyzes spatial data for land management
- Research Program Coordinator – Manages scientific studies and field operations
- Veterinary Scientist – Specializes in livestock and wildlife health
- Data Analyst – Processes research data and monitors trends
Education and Outreach career Possibilities
- Education Program Director – Develops and oversees educational initiatives
- Youth Education Coordinator – Focuses on K-12 programs and field trips
- Conservation Education Specialist – Teaches about wildlife and habitat conservation
- Agricultural Extension Agent – Provides education and resources to landowners
- Outreach Coordinator – Connects programs with communities and stakeholders
- Museum/Nature Center Educator – Teaches public about regional ecology
- Science Communication Specialist – Shares research findings with various audiences
ongoing Projects
Learn About Our Ongoing Projects
We’re dedicated to building an innovative and applicable science program. Check out what we’re researching in South Texas.
