Riand brings a background in wildlife ecology, urban biodiversity research, and policy-focused communication to TWS; her internship will support research, federal rulemaking briefs, and member-facing policy content.
Fanny Riand joins TWS as the fall 2026 wildlife policy and communications intern, combining wildlife ecology training with public management and policy coursework.
Her master’s work at Iowa State examined native plants, pollinators and birds in new residential development and probed municipal roles and homeowner attitudes toward urban habitat.
During the internship she will research and track science-policy issues, prepare background for federal comments, expand TWS policy resources, and write articles linking policy to on-the-ground wildlife work.
# New TWS policy and communications intern: who she is and what she'll do
Riand's interest in urban socioecological systems began during her undergraduate years at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned dual bachelor's degrees in biology and natural resources conservation in 2022. She worked on a Smithsonian-led community science project that monitored urban bird populations and completed an honors thesis on public attitudes about outdoor cats to inform bird-conservation outreach strategies.
Her field experience spans multiple regions and species. Roles have included surveying plants and pollinators in Idaho, participating in a restoration grazing program on Martha's Vineyard, and studying a population of federally threatened Florida scrub-jays. Those positions gave her practical experience with field methods and with communicating research findings to managers and stakeholders.
Riand describes her aim as bridging the gap between science and policy: making conservation science more accessible to policymakers, elevating the work of wildlife researchers and managers, and supporting evidence-based policymaking for sustainable management. Outside work she enjoys birding, drawing, photography, and caring for many houseplants.
What this means for TWS members and stakeholders
TWS gains an intern with hands-on field experience, urban ecological research, and training in public management and policy. Expect content and resources that focus on urban biodiversity, homeowner and municipal engagement in habitat creation, and practical background material supporting federal policy participation. Riand's combination of research and communication skills should help translate scientific findings into concise materials usable in rulemaking and member outreach.
Bottom line: TWS has added an intern whose education and field background align with urban biodiversity and policy communication tasks, and whose role will include producing resources that connect scientific evidence to decision-making and member needs.
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