Meet our 2022 Mississippi River Fellows
The Mississippi River Fellowship is a 10-week paid opportunity for diverse and underrepresented young adults ages 18-25 to explore the different branches of the National Park Service including Visitor Services, Interpretation & Education, Natural & Cultural Resource Management, and the Volunteer Program. The fellows work directly with National Park Service Rangers, Mississippi Park Connection staff, and other park partners to facilitate educational programs, habitat restoration events, and wildlife monitoring on the Mississippi River. Meet our 2022 fellows: Justine, Javi, and Zoë!
I’m Justine Wulff, an incoming sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I’m studying environmental engineering with a sustainability minor. Within Madison, I’m involved with the track and field and nordic clubs as extracurriculars to get outside and exercise. Moreover, I’m from Como Park where I graduated from Como Park Senior High and was involved with cross country, nordic skiing, and track and field. Additionally, I was co-president of the environmental club and a member of the National Honors Society and Link Crew (a program dedicated to helping incoming freshmen adjust to high school.)
In the past, I’ve worked with Friends of the Mississippi River where I assisted with the Environmental Stewardship Institute and I’ve gained experience in working with high schoolers and public engagement. I was also a fellow through FMR’s Environmental Stewardship Institute where I first began working in the environmental field and gained further interest. I'm excited to join Mississippi Park Connection as a fellow this summer as I’m passionate about environmental stewardship and engaging with the public about environmental issues. In addition, I’m enthusiastic about gaining more experience within the environmental field and exploring diverse career paths.
Hi, my name is Javi Xiong and I am one of the three lucky individuals in the Mississippi River Fellowship program. I was born in the Twin Cities in Minnesota and live in the outside suburbs of it. My relationship with the river is that I feel like I’ve always taken advantage of the rivers and lakes. For me being in this program is a really great way for me to give back to the river and the communities surrounding it.
I’m currently a junior at the University of Minnesota Crookston studying environmental science, biology, and a minor in sustainability. I am also part of the Sustainability club and look forward to using what I have learned from this fellowship and applying it to others in my campus.
I enjoy watching short films, setting up aquariums, and reading short stories. Along the fellowship I hope to hear more stories from local Indigenous people, learn more about the river environment with applied practice, and moving forward what I can do now and in the future to help the community and biology around the Mississippi River.
Hello! My name is Zoë Riordan and this summer I am very excited to be serving as a 2022 Mississippi River Fellow with Mississippi Park Connection. I am from Minneapolis, so I have grown up around lakes and the Mississippi River my whole life. This fall, I am an incoming freshman at Michigan Technological University planning to study Applied Ecology and Environmental Science. In my free time I’m mostly like listening to music, biking around the city, or reading.
I have been lucky enough to go canoeing and camping with my family throughout my life, which was the start of my interest in the outdoors. However, having the chance to access the Boundary Waters with Project Success and serve with the Youth Conservation Corps on Isle Royale and in Minneapolis has only increased my ambition to work with the National Park Service and protect wilderness parks and natural spaces in the city. One of my goals this summer and moving forward is to connect with the communities around the Mississippi River to make accessing the parks and their history an equitable experience for everyone.