Profile for Amber Finley
Amber Finley
University of North Dakota, Teaching & Learning - Research Methodologies
A.S.-Science & A.A.-Liberal Arts :Fort Berthold Community College,
B.S.-Fisheries & Wildlife Biology: University of North Dakota,
M.S.-Environmental Management: University of San Francisco
Doosha! My name is Amber Finley. I am an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation. I am currently a doctoral student at the University of North Dakota in the Teaching and Learning Program under Research Methodologies. My focus in general is environmental education and ecoliteracy. I am also the proud mother of a beautiful nine year old daughter, named Selena. I have had the privilege of working with the SEEDS program for a total of five years now. I currently am working with the SEOI Committee, helping to plan this year's outreach fieldtrip. I am also working with our SEEDS Alumni to create more opportunities for our SEEDS graduates to continue to be involved with the SEEDS program. I look forward to hanging out with everyone for an exciting weekend of leadership and development. Much like my educational interests, my research interests are varied. I have worked on a variety of research projects, from Juneberry Restoration to Sex Determination in reptiles. During my Master's studies, I worked on the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, assisting my advisor with his work on sediment accumulation rates. My Master's Project focused on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the Possibilities for using TEK in Ecosystem Management. I decided to sort of switch gears as a doctoral student, and have decided to focus my research on Environmental Education and Ecoliteracy. As some people might know, here in North Dakota environmental issues are not always put on the immediate agenda, there is an overwhelming number of people who think that their lifestyles here on the Plains have no affect on current environmental issues we face as a global community. It will be a focus of mine to enlighten the citizens of North Dakota and to hopefully incorporate more environmental science into classroom curriculum. My future interests include working with my tribe and other tribes on more sustainable environmental practices and policies. I am also working with a friend of mine to establish an Urban American Indian Center here in Grand Forks, ND; one of our main goals is to have a Native Science Center.
June 2004- SEEDS Field Trip to Kananaskis Field Station, in Calgary, Canada.
June 2005- SEEDS Field Trip to University of Michigan Biological Field Station
August 2005 - ESA Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada
January 2006 - ESA International Meeting in Merida, Mexico
February 2007 - SEEDS Leadership Meeting, attended as a guest
August 2007 - ESA Annual Meeting in San Jose, CA: Helped with the 1st SEOI Committee on-site as a educational guide, and served as an Alumni Meeting Mentor
Fall Semester 2007 - Worked as an interim Program Assistant with the SEEDS Program. Worked with Raynelle Rino to establish the SEEDS Alumni Committee.
August 2008 - ESA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, WI: served as an Alumni Mentor, served on the Trailblazers session, on-site assistance for the SEOI Fieldtrip.
Currently working with both the SEEDS Alumni Committee and the SEOI Committee. My advice to current and future SEEDS students is to have fun, enjoy your experience, be outgoing, be thankful, and be patient. When I attended my very first SEEDS event, the most positive thing I got out of the trip was all the wonderful relationships that have grown over the years as a result of following the advice I just gave. I never thought that SEEDS was going to have such a huge impact in my life, but it has been one of the most pivotal moments in my college career. I have met some of the brightest young ecologists in the field and have been supported by the some of the best program staff I have ever worked with.