Three historically Black universities – Bowie State University in Maryland, Bethune-Cookman University in Florida, and Alabama A&M University – have recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to provide students with employment opportunities at the agency after graduation.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, less than 5 percent of their workforce is Black. As part of the agreement, Bowie State, Bethune Cookman, and Alabama A&M will join a consortium that aims to recruit and provide permanent employment opportunities for diverse students interested in environmental and conservation careers. Currently, the consortium includes the University of Texas at San Antonio and New Mexico State University, as well as two other HBCUs: Tuskegee University in Alabama and Fort Valley State University in Georgia.
“Adding three more universities to our national consortium is the culmination of years of work,” said Siva Sundaresan, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Recruiting and hiring students from varied backgrounds makes our workforce more representative of our nation and helps us meet wildlife and environmental challenges for all Americans.”
