Sarah Frances is helping spread the word about the many UConn Extension programs that help communities in Connecticut as an intern this summer.

Frances ’27 (CAHNR) is a natural resource and the environment major with a specialization in fisheries and wildlife conservation. She and her advisor Morty Ortega, associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, designed the internship together, creating something that would utilize Frances’s skills and interests to benefit UConn Extension.

Frances came to UConn with an associate’s degree in fine art photography and wants to become a wildlife photojournalist after graduation. Through her internship, Frances is creating a series of video interviews with several UConn Extension professionals. The interviews highlight the ways in which UConn Extension works with vulnerable communities throughout the state. UConn Extension is the University’s premier community engagement arm and is located within the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).

“What we’re trying to do is get information about why Extension is so important. We want to get the word out about what Extension is and let people know about some of the programs they can access,” Frances says.

The video interviews will highlight programs in urban forestry, 4-H, water resources, community sustainability and resilience, and more.

Frances will speak with the Extension educators as well as community members who directly benefit from Extension’s work.

“The work we’re doing is important,” Frances says. “It’s vital and it’s helping a lot of people. The more people who know about that the better.”

Frances’s internship experience began early as she was able to complete practice interviews during a study abroad trip led by Ortega to South Africa in May.

The three-week field ecology program allows students to get up close to and learn about animals like lions, giraffes, and elephants. Every day, students go out on game drives, learning about biodiversity in the savanna and how to track animals.

Frances describes the experience as “life-changing,” as it allowed her to connect with nature in new ways.

“Working with the animals and getting to be around them, it’s unlike anything you can ever express,” Frances says. “You close your eyes for one second and when you open them, you’re face-to-face with a cape buffalo. It’s just unreal and it’s very centering.”

Frances says she also formed life-long bonds with the other students on the trip.

“It’s 30 people who will be the only people to understand what it’s like to wake up hearing the sounds of lions roaring right next to your tent,” Frances says.

Frances says this internship experience is helping prepare her for a career in wildlife photojournalism that merges her love of art and science.

“I just want to work outside and work with animals, take pictures, and help the world be a better place as we deal with the climate crisis and environmental issues. I really want to make sure that regardless of what happens to us, we give a beautiful, beautiful world to the generations to come,” Frances says. “And if I can do that while taking photos and writing stories I most certainly will.”

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