Interdisciplinary Professional
Interdisciplinary Professional

Meg Ward



EDUCATION
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY, BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA
2013-2017
Bachelors of Arts: Interdisciplinary Studies - Conservation Research Methods
Bachelors of Science: Anthropology - Biological Anthropology
Minor: Evolutionary Anthropology and Primatology
GPA: 3.4

Professional Experience

SITKA SOUND SCIENCE CENTER � 2018
SITKA WHALEFEST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
Logistics coordinator for local science festival with 500+ attendees. Events included marine themed science symposium, community and cultural activities, lectures, marine wildlife cruises in Sitka Sound, artisan market, music, local food vendors, art show and interactive student sessions.
-Developed a social media promotion plan across platforms for all 15 events.
-Engaged face-to-face with vendors, symposium attendees, featured scientists, and local companies.
-Consulted daily with director regarding event strategies and goals.
-Created and ran staging room, identifying, assembling, and distributing items to ensure successful events.
-Recruited and updated database of volunteers, events and sponsors.
-Developed event decor and ambiance based on theme and budget.
-Advised director on setup options, graphics, and decor choices.
-Directed volunteers and support staff throughout events.

INTERPRETER:
Educated aquarium and salmon hatchery visitors and dignitaries, furthering the organization�s mission to increase understanding and appreciation of Southeast Alaska�s terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
-Led 45-60 minute aquarium and hatchery tours, answered visitor�s questions, managed the entrance desk, assisted with facility maintenance (feeding fish, cleaning classrooms, aquariums, etc.), collected specimens, and planned and promoted regular events.
-Balanced and secured admission and retail accounts.

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL � 2014-2018

TAKEOUT SPECIALIST and FOOD PREPARATION - 2016 - 2018
CASHIER/BARTENDER/CREW - 2014 - 2016
-Promoted through several positions to Take-Out Specialist.
-Earned �Excellent� rating across all 4 years.
-Solicited orders, processed payments and responded to guest concerns in a timely manner.
-Closed and opened store, including balancing cash drawer.
-Ensured food safety through hourly temperature checks, proper food handling, and ?enforced strict sanitation, health and safety procedures.
-Prepared food based on customer volume and maintained portion control.
-Remained flexible with ability to work in demanding, stressful environments.
-Promptly handled complaints and informed management team members.
-Mastered Point of Sale (POS) computer system for automated order taking.
-Mastered company First In/First Out standards.
-Employed superior knife skills to chop, dice, julienne and slice vegetables, reducing food prep time.
-Maintained cleanliness of stations, scoring 100 percent on safety checks.

PRIMATOLOGICAL FIELD WORK AND RESEARCH � 2016
Intense practice in primatological field techniques and primate research at Maderas Rainforest Conservancy, La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica. Studies involved sampling vegetation in tropical rainforests, collecting information on temporal changes in resource availability in the rainforest, mapping a field site, and collecting data on the behavior and ecology of free-ranging non-human primates.
-Created and conducted a full research project focusing in infant-adult proximity and social relationships of mantled howler monkeys.
-Navigated steep terrain and dense vegetation in humid tropical rainforest ecosystem for more than 6 hours a day.
-Mastered various methods of observational data sampling, including instantaneous and continuous focal sampling.
-Created detailed ethogram appropriate to research design and maintained consistency throughout data collection term.
-Accurately measured proximity according to ethogram and appropriately recorded distance and space between individuals.
-Successfully added 30+ hours of recordable primate tracking and observational data to station histories over and above pilot data.

EYE CARE CENTER � 2012-2014
CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST/TECHNICIAN:
-Professionally welcomed patients into the practice, completed pre-evaluation paperwork and directed patients throughout appointment.
-Processed all patient medical and retail transactions, including insurance claims and explanations.
-Correctly organized patient files according to company policy.
-Mastered patient confidentiality protocol to company and legal standards.
-Performed and recorded basic glaucoma testing.
-Ensured orderly and timely patient throughput.
-Dispensed contact lenses to patients, emphasizing safety and best practices.

INTERN: POSSUMWOOD ACRES WILDLIFE SANCTUARY � 2015
Non-profit wildlife rehabilitation organization and sanctuary, Hubert, North Carolina
Intense rehabilitation and training for native wildlife, including species identification, natural history and habitat requirements.
-Exercised daily hands-on patient care, especially wound care, bandaging and splinting, cage set-up, feeding, watering, tubing, weighing, administering medications, calculating dosages, giving injections, providing fluid therapy and dehydration relief and orphan care, and following severe emaciation protocols.
-Exercised and improved public relation skills, dealing with concerned citizens dropping off injured patients. Answered wildlife related questions and directed visitors to relevant resources.
-Created and presented educational programs and presentations for visiting school and community groups that included working safely with non-releasable animals and birds.
-Supervised volunteers, students, and newer interns, instructing them in proper care and animal, bird, and raptor bird handling.

Computer Skills
ArcGIS: ArcCatalog and ArcMap
Minitab statistics software
Adobe Premiere Pro and iMovie for video editing
Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Powerpoint