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	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}David-MacFarland.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;" />Last year, the Institute received a letter from a recent alumnus. He told us that &ldquo;&hellip;I wanted to pursue a career in wildlife ecology. [My home college] did not, and still does not, offer a single course in wildlife ecology. I was able to fill this gap through&hellip;Au Sable. I was immersed in field-based learning developing skills which led directly to my acceptance into graduate school&hellip;When I decided to attend graduate school, it was an Au Sable professor who accepted me as an advisee to the University of Wisconsin. My Au Sable experiences were more extensive than most students, but even if the wildlife class was the only one I took it was hugely influential, leading directly to my MS research. The opening of that door ultimately led to a PhD and the launching of my career.&rdquo; The author was Dr. David MacFarland (see photo, right), currently the top carnivore biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and head of the programs for managing wolves and black bears. The course Dr. MacFarland is referring to is&nbsp;<a href="/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Wildlife%20Ecology">Wildlife Ecology</a>.</p>
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	Immersed in the forests of northern Michigan at Au Sable&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="/courses/campuses/great_lakes/">Great Lakes Campus</a>, Wildlife Ecology has been one of the Institute&rsquo;s best offerings in preparing students for graduate programs and professional employment in wildlife management and conservation.</p>
