Meet INHF's 2017 Summer Interns

By Haley Hodges on May 30, 2017 in Blog

Office Interns

Nora Balboa | Grant Writing Intern

grantinternnora@inhf.org
Hometown: South Elgin, IL
School: Drake University 
Major: English & Psychology 
Favorite native plant/animal: Groundhogs

"I look forward to working with a bunch of cool people working together to help make sure Iowa's natural resources have a bright future."
 

Genna Clemen | Graphic Design Intern

designinterngenna@inhf.org
Hometown: Overland Park, KS
School: Drake University 
Major: Graphic Design & Digital Media Production 
Favorite native plant/animal: Wild flowers

"I am excited to learn more about Iowa land, water and wildlife! I look forward to finding creative ways to share the stories and importance of Iowa land."
 

Austin Dunn | Trails Intern

trailsinternaustin@inhf.org            
Hometown: Newton, IA
School: Graduate student at Iowa State University
Major: Landscape Architecture & Community and Regional Planning 
Favorite native plant/animal: Staghorn Sumac

"I am looking forward to putting theory to practice, working toward better trails in Iowa — something I am passionate about. I also look forward to learning from the great folks who keep INHF running."
 

Ben Grauer | Outreach Intern

outreachinternben@inhf.org            
Hometown: Winterset, IA
School: University of Iowa
Major: Bachelor of Liberal Studies
Favorite native plant/animal: Wild Rose

"I'm looking forward to developing a toolkit to provide to county conservation boards to increase awareness of the value of public lands and encourage Iowans to take advantage of all they have to offer."
 

Haley Hodges | Communications Intern

comminternhaley@inhf.org            
Hometown: Niwot, CO
School: Drake University
Major: News & Writing
Favorite native plant/animal: False map turtle or that one bear that sometimes hangs out in Iowa corn fields. 

"I'm excited to plan and coordinate the Hagie Heritage Award and learn about different projects by writing for INHF's magazine and blog."
 

Emily Tyler | Program Support Intern

programinternemily@inhf.org            
Hometown: Pittsfield, NH
School: Drake University
Major: English & Rhetoric, Media & Social Change 
Favorite native plant/animal: Raccoons because they're like little punk bandits with scraggly, mischievous hands; basically the honey badgers of the midwest.

"I'm looking forward to learning more about native species and natural landscapes in Iowa through a bunch of different facets."
 

Statewide Land Stewardship Interns

Nicholas Banwarth

Hometown: Peosta, IA
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry
Favorite native plant/animal: Black Cherry Tree

"I'm looking forward to exploring different areas of the state and the experience of camping weekly with the crew."

 

Alex Hoffman

Hometown: Ottumwa, IA
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry
Favorite native plant/animal: Bur oak and white-tailed deer

"I am excited to visit and work at some of Iowa's great remaining wild lands."


 

Jared Keenan

Hometown: Grinnell, IA
School: Central College
Major: Environmental Science & Biology 
Favorite native plant/animal: Columbine

"I'm looking forward to seeing different landscapes of Iowa."

Ris Kleve

Hometown: Dundee, IA
School: Iowa State University
Major: Dairy Science and International Agriculture 
Favorite native plant/animal: Columbine

"I'm looking forward to seeing new places in Iowa and working with great people."


 

Maxwell McCarty

Hometown: Bettendorf, IA
School: Scott Community College
Major: Environmental Science & Biology 
Favorite native plant/animal: Green Dragon & American Bison 

"I look forward to exploring Iowa's wild places and being a part of INHF's mission statement!"

 

Sarah Rueger

Hometown: Hubbard, IA
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry & Animal Ecology 
Favorite native plant/animal: Jack-in-the-pulpit

"I'm looking forward to spending my days and nights outside with the crew."


 

Derek Seward

Hometown: Sloan, IA
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry & Animal Ecology 
Favorite native plant/animal: American sycamore 

"I'm looking forward to getting to know the INHF staff and learning different prairie and woodland plant species."

 

Trent Stuchel

Hometown: Ottumwa, IA
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry
Favorite native plant/animal: Shagbark hickory 

"I'm looking forward to discovering the native state of Iowa's land and learning how to restore it to that state."

 

Abby Zabrodsky

Hometown: Brookfield, IL
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry
Favorite native plant/animal: Bur Oak

"I'm looking forward to seeing beautiful places in Iowa I would never have been able to explore and meeting the interesting land owners."
 

Blufflands Land Stewardship Interns

Peder Hopkins

Hometown: Newton, IA
School: Graduated from Luther College
Major: History 
Favorite native plant/animal: Bur Oak

"I'm looking forward to spending time outdoors and preserving the scenery in northeast Iowa."

 

Taylor Schaefers

Hometown: Garnavillo, IA
School: Loras College
Major: Biology & Secondary Education with a Chemistry endorsement 
Favorite native plant/animal: Sandhill Crane, Bur Oak

"I'm looking forward to experiences with the other interns and the land as well as becoming more knowledgeable about the land."

 

Hunter Schmitt

Hometown: Sumner, IA
School: Hawkeye Community College
Major: Natural resources management
Favorite native plant/animal: Geum triflorum 

"I'm looking forward to getting to make a difference in Iowa native prairies and learn from the INHF crew."

 

Trev Schoyer

Hometown: Ossian, IA
School: Upper Iowa University
Major: Conservation management 
Favorite native plant/animal: White-tailed deer

"I'm looking forward to meeting new people and learning new things."