Sweet Briar College Partners With the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

Sweet Briar College, the liberal arts educational institution for women in Virginia has entered into a new partnership agreement with the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Fort Royal, Virginia. Under the agreement, Sweet Briar students will have the opportunity to spend a semester studying at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Up to three Sweet Briar students will be eligible to participate each semester.

During the 16-week semester, students will participate in conservation projects with experts from the Smithsonian Institution, George Mason University, and wildlife protection agencies around the world. Participating students can choose concentrations in conservation, biodiversity and society, endangered species conservation, or wildlife ecology and conservation.

Linda Fink, the Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Ecology at Sweet Briar College, stated that “this is a fantastic opportunity for Sweet Briar students. The teaching, research, and living facilities are beautiful, the course syllabi are top notch, and students will be engaging with top-tier conservation practitioners.”

Professor Fink is a graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts, where she majored in biology. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Florida.