Scholarships

In my own journey of establishing myself and building inclusive spaces in this field as a queer woman of color, I’ve learned cost is one of the biggest barriers to pursuing taxidermy-and is part of why the field lacks diversity. So I’m leveraging my privileges to address this systemic issue with a scholarship program for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+ individuals to finance professional quality classes in a safe setting, and a beginners taxidermy tool set. Taxidermy is a form of storytelling, and I believe that the more voices we have telling those stories, the richer this field will be.

Interested? Please fill out this form and visit my Events page to find these classes.

How will this be funded? Donations and sponsors! All contributions to our GoFundMe will be used to directly fund in person classes and supply kits.

This is an ongoing program and sure to change and grow.

At the moment, I am looking for-

Partners - Are you a group or organization led by and centering Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and/or LGBTQ+, communities? I would love to work with you to offer free classes to make the joy of taxidermy accessible to your audience. Due to the pandemic, I am only offering virtual demonstrations, classes, and talks. Once it is safe to resume large gatherings and closer contact, I’d be more than happy to teach classes in person! The typical hands-on taxidermy class has 4-8 people and takes 4-7 hours. The typical virtual event is 1-2 hours, including an open Q&A.

Beneficiaries - Do you identify as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, and/or LGBTQ+ and looking for taxidermy classes, but cost is a financial barrier? Are you unsure of where to start? Please fill out this form and email me to sign up for a virtual class. All in-person classes are postponed due to the pandemic. All form responses and communication will be kept confidential. 

Mentors - Are you a professional woking in the field of taxidermy, taxidermy art, or specimen prep and willing to offer time to aspiring taxidermists? I’d love to hear from you, especially if you identify as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, and/or LGBTQ+! My goal is to connect aspiring taxidermists to friendly mentors in their area.

Supporters - Taxidermy is uniquely positioned to connect with people and start conversations, making it an incredibly powerful tool for conservation. We are at a critical time - this industry, and wildlife conservation overall, needs to be intentional about inclusivity. If you are interested in supporting the changing the face of taxidermy, through a sponsorship arrangement, institutional accommodation, or ongoing donations, I would love to hear from you.