Students Explore Ecology and Conservation in New Kenya Study Abroad Program

This summer, a group of University of New Haven students traveled more than 7,000 miles to take part in a unique study abroad program in Kenya. The two-week course, Ecology and Conservation in Kenya, offered students the chance to explore critical ecosystems, learn directly from experts, and experience firsthand the challenges and solutions driving conservation in East Africa.

Led by Sharon Kahara, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology and environmental science, the course introduced students to diverse ecological topics such as habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and environmental justice. The group visited the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, the lush highlands, and the Ondiri Wetland, engaging in discussions about biodiversity threats, human-wildlife conflict, and community-based conservation practices.

For Dr. Kahara, creating this experience was personal. “The Kenya Study Abroad course was inspired by my own wonderful memories of traveling as a graduate student,” she said. “I knew studying abroad can be a transformative experience and wanted to share it with my students.”

Her own early fieldwork in Europe shaped her approach to this program. “I made an incredible number of friends from around the world who I still keep in touch with today after more than two decades,” she said. “I wanted my students to feel that same spark.”

Each day combined fieldwork with guided lessons from local and international experts. In particular, Dr. Kahara was joined by Professor Stewart Thompson, an emeritus professor at Oxford-Brookes University, whose expertise in large mammal population dynamics was an important asset to the course.

Students studied topics ranging from wildlife forensics to nomadic pastoralism, often while immersed in the very environments being discussed. “Students experienced tropical wetlands, restored indigenous forests, and visited the Masai Mara National Park,” said Dr. Kahara. “All sections are guided by specialists who live and work in these landscapes.”

Beyond academics, Dr. Kahara hoped the trip would open students’ eyes to broader global connections. “I really hope that students become global citizens and feel confident enough to tackle the problems that plague our world such as poverty, injustice, species loss, and environmental degradation,” she explained. “The education one gains from travel is invaluable.”

She also emphasized the importance of shifting perceptions. “At a personal level, I want to change the perception many people have of Africa. It’s an absolutely incredible continent with astounding natural resources and welcoming people. Everybody should experience Africa at least once in their life.”

For students, the experience was as eye-opening as it was unforgettable. “Honestly? I blame my older brother,” joked student participant Danielle Jastrab ’26, a biology student, when asked what motivated her to join. “He went to Cameroon years ago, came back glowing, and said it was one of the best decisions he ever made. When this Kenya trip popped up, I thought, ‘Why not?’ even though I had zero clue what I was signing up for.”

Her leap of faith quickly turned into lasting memories. “Exploring Ondiri Wetland was like walking into a living science textbook but, you know, with way more mud,” she said. “One moment I’ll never forget was us trying to gracefully walk through the wetland, slipping every few steps, while our guide casually walked through like he was on a red carpet. Nature: 1. Us: 0.”

Witnessing conservation work up close reshaped her perspective. “It’s one thing to read about biodiversity loss; it’s another to stand in a threatened wetland and witness the community fighting to preserve it,” she said. “It made me realize conservation isn’t just about protecting nature, it’s about partnerships, education, and persistence.”

For Jastrab, connecting with local communities was a lesson no classroom could replicate. “The knowledge and resilience of the local communities blew me away,” she said. “Classrooms are great, but no PowerPoint can capture the feeling of sharing tea with someone who lives what you’re studying.”

As the trip unfolded, students engaged with leading conservationists and organizations such as the Africa Climate and Environment Foundation, where they studied Kenya’s raptors and the threats these birds face. They learned how species such as Rüppell’s Vulture and the White-Headed Vulture are critical to ecosystems yet remain critically endangered.

For Jastrab, the program left an enduring impact on her academic and professional goals. “Academically, I now see environmental science not just as a major, but as a mission,” she said. “Professionally, this trip completely reshaped how I see my future. I want to be part of the solution, advocating for wildlife, protecting habitats, and amplifying the voices of local communities.”

She summed up the experience saying: “Kenya taught me that conservation is about connection—between people, land, and creatures, great and small. And now I can’t imagine my life without this trip.”