VA TWS IDEA Committee

06/25/2026

Happy Pride from IDEA of VATWS! Check out this article (link in bio) about ensuring safe spaces for our LGBTQIA+ colleagues - published by and with contributions from our partners at

01/23/2026

Planning on attending the Virginia Chapters of AFS and TWS at our joint annual meeting in March? Need funding?

Apply for the 2026 Scholarship from the VATWS Committee on Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Awareness

This scholarship is open to any current students, graduate or undergraduate, and any federal employees who lost their jobs as part of recent administrative actions who self-identify as Black/African American, Hispanic, Alaskan Native or American Indian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, differently abled, or as a member of any community underrepresented in the wildlife profession.

Awards can be used to cover lodging and travel costs associated with the VATWS meeting at the recipient's discretion. Recipients are encouraged (not required) to join and contribute to the VATWS IDEA committee.

Link in our bio!

03/30/2025

The IDEA Committee of the Virginia Chapter of attended the annual meeting March 18-19 where Angie updated the membership on our activities and Marcella presented on domestic and international field safety for all. We would like to thank everyone that supported our efforts to fund future student grants and programming, especially Wildlife Center of Virginia and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for donating items to the silent auction, and for donating their scrumptious coffee to our IDEA-sponsored coffee/snack breaks.

Check out the link in our bio for more info on how to contact us, resources, and more.

03/18/2025

For wildlife professionals impacted by federal layoffs, The Wildlife Society has compiled resources on membership extensions, career opportunities, policy engagement, and more. Find them here: https://wildlife.org/federal-resources/

03/18/2025

The Wildlife Society recognizes the recent adversity faced by many federal employees. As a result, we're expanding Wildlife Vocalizations to capture the stories of those affected by the federal workforce reductions. We hope this approach not only helps unite those within the profession but also strengthens the connection between the public and the vital work being done by federal employees to conserve wildlife.

If you wish to share your story, please visit the submission form here: https://forms.gle/v8BNkgaCRtL4ufvB8

03/18/2025

03/18/2025

The Wildlife Society deeply appreciates federal wildlife professionals and their dedication to conservation. If you’ve recently lost your job due to administrative actions, we’re offering a free six-month membership extension to support you. Impacted professionals who aren’t yet TWS members can also receive a free six-month membership.

To take advantage of this offer, email [email protected].

If you're affected, please ensure your membership is linked to a personal email so you continue receiving TWS news and resources. Log in here to check or change your contact information: http://wildlife.org/login

03/10/2025

Attention all VATWS Presenters!

Consider using the tips we collated for you that will make your presentations accessible to all attendees, including those that see or hear information differently. Included are color schemes to avoid for people with color-blindness, spacing and fonts for those with dyslexia, gender-neutral language, and more!

Check out our Linktree in our bio to get access to the PDF of tips. We will continue to add tips and welcome suggestions. Email us at [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/ideavatws

02/27/2025

UPDATE: Our scholarship application is now open to any recently terminated federal employees and students. Please apply soon! Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society

02/11/2025

Apply now for the IDEA Committee Student Scholarship - graduate and undergraduate students encouraged to apply.

This scholarship is open to any current student, graduate or undergraduate, who self-identifies as Black/African American, Hispanic, Alaskan Native or American Indian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, differently abled, or as a member of any community underrepresented in the wildlife profession.

Awards can be used to cover VATWS meeting registration, lodging, and travel costs at the recipient's discretion. Recipients are encouraged (not required) to join and contribute to the VATWS IDEA committee.