Breanna Frankel, Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) recently earned her Master of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation with a concentration in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation from the University of Florida.

Breanna, a core part of CROW’s rehabilitation team, has been working towards her master’s degree for the past two years all while still working full time. “To take on graduate level classes and work full time is a balancing act, but it is all worth it to do something I love,” says Frankel.

Breanna’s accomplishments and dedication are not surprising to her CROW team members. “Breanna’s continued growth in the field further strengthens the positive impact she and members of the CROW team strive to achieve through our mission. We are proud of her unwavering dedication and compassion for our patients and celebrate this major achievement in her career,” says Dr. Robin Bast, Staff Veterinarian at CROW.

Prior to joining CROW, Frankel spent time studying wildlife conservation in South Africa on a big game preserve and working with domestic animals at a small veterinary medicine practice. Her experience in South Africa illuminated the challenges wildlife face and sparked her passion for conservation. “Conservation is crucial in the big picture; it is bigger than CROW and it is bigger than any one entity,” states Frankel. “If we can educate about the importance of conservation, keeping wildlife wild, and the importance of peaceful cohabitation with wildlife, my hope is we can continue to grow our organization in name and size. Gaining this degree not only furthers my own personal growth and development, but also enriches the lives of those I work with.”