Jenna Mendenhall takes passion for nature to job at wildlife refuge in Sherwood

The OSU grad came armed with a background working with animals, the environment and science

By Kristen Forbes

The Times, Nov 5, 2009

Kristen Forbes / Times Newspapers

OSU graduate Jenna Mendenhall has always had a reverence for nature. Even if she didn’t work at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, she says she’d still volunteer there.

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Jenna Mendenhall, a recent graduate of Oregon State University, is a Northwest Service Academy AmeriCorps member who is currently working as the environmental education coordinator at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.

At OSU, Mendenhall did an inter-disciplinary degree.

“My focus was human dimensions within the environment,” says Mendenhall. “I took classes such as environmental philosophy. I also have an extensive science background. Mainly, my focus was to connect people with nature and see how humans interact with nature.”

Before landing this position, Mendenhall had been volunteering at the refuge since February. Now, with the environmental education program, she works with schools and other groups who come out to the refuge for field trips.

“I’ve always loved nature,” she says. “My father was in the environmental realm with his work, so it’s in my family.”

At OSU, Mendenhall volunteered for a different wildlife refuge, as well as the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This is where she realized what she wanted to do as a career. Mendenhall completed another AmeriCorps program, LINKS, during the summer when she interned at the Tualatin Hills Nature Park. She began her position at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in September.

“I enjoy being outside,” Mendenhall says. “Working here is nice because I really love walking the trails.”

Mendenhall, who lives in Beaverton, says she would still be volunteering at the refuge, even if she didn’t work here.

“It’s a beautiful place, and the people are awesome,” she says.

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