International Wolf Center Announces 2025 Dr. L. David Mech Fellowship Recipients

International Wolf Center Announces 2025 Dr. L. David Mech Fellowship Recipients

Ely, MN – April 1, 2025 – The International Wolf Center is thrilled to announce the recipients of the esteemed Dr. L. David Mech Fellowship for 2025. This fellowship honors renowned wolf biologist and founder of the Center, Dr. L. David Mech, and acknowledges promising individuals dedicated to advancing the field of wildlife research. This year, Taylor Lebron and Sylvia Reed have been selected as the fellowship recipients.

Each recipient will receive up to $10,000 to support their ongoing work in wildlife biology. “We are honored to offer this fellowship to the next generation of wildlife biologists,” said Grant Spickelmier, Executive Director of the Center. “Our deepest gratitude goes to the generous donors whose support has made this fellowship possible.”

Taylor Lebron is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, where they initially studied urban sustainability before shifting focus to wildlife research through various internships and professional experiences. Taylor’s background includes studying Galapagos Sea Lions and sea turtles in the Galápagos Islands and currently working at the Lincoln Park Zoo, where they observe behavior in Japanese Macaques. Taylor is thrilled about the fellowship as a significant step towards enhancing research skills for a future PhD program. They are particularly eager to participate in the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose project, which examines the impact of wolf abundance on beaver foraging behavior following the wolf reintroduction in 2018-2019.

Sylvia Reed, a Texas native, has always had a profound love for the natural world. Her fascination with ecology and wildlife research flourished during her undergraduate studies at Davidson College, where she earned a degree in Environmental Studies. Sylvia’s thesis investigated the impact of mercury levels on avian community structures in Western Kenya, further igniting her passion for fieldwork. Since graduating, Sylvia has gained valuable experience through various technician roles focused on avian research, including field surveys and genetic analysis. Eager to broaden her research expertise, she looks forward to collaborating with esteemed wildlife biologists in the Gulf Coast Canine Project, which aims to explore the genetic variation of coyotes along the coast of Texas and Louisiana.

The Dr. L. David Mech Fellowship enables recipients to conduct impactful research, engage in collaborative projects, and contribute to global conservation efforts for wolf populations. For additional information about the Mech Fellowship, please https://wolf.org/programs/mech-fellowship.