Jorge Esparza ’24 (wildlife ecology and conservation) has never shied away from a challenge. As an Honors College student, he dedicated himself to conservation research, particularly centered around human-wildlife conflict. Even as an undergraduate, his impact was global — most notably through his fieldwork in Sri Lanka, where he studied strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.
Hands-on experience: fieldwork in Sri Lanka and human-elephant conflict
His dedication earned him an NSF EPSCoR grant in 2023, funding his participation in the International Research Opportunity: Sri Lanka program. The eight-week experience, supported by the Young Explorers Program of Nevada and the NSF IRES grant, took him to Wasgamuwa National Park, where he worked alongside biologists, conservationists, and local farmers to study the root causes of human-elephant conflict.
“One of my favorite parts of Sri Lanka was working as a team during interviews and surveys,” he recalls. His research was inspired by Project Orange Elephant, an initiative that used orange tree barriers to deter elephants from farmland. The experience sparked his interest in alternative crop strategies and sustainable land use and helped confirm his career path.
Next chapter: Esparza’s new journey with the Peace Corps in Panama
Now, he’s off on his next adventure: a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps in their Panama-based Sustainable Agriculture Systems program, a perfect fit for his skills and experience.
“Peace Corps volunteers are typically stationed in a rural part of their respective countries for two years, and adjusting to a rural lifestyle is a common challenge. Great news for me is I already know what it’s like to live and work in an isolated setting — but of course, this time, it’ll be two years instead of two months,” Esparza said.
Esparza’s passion for conservation was evident throughout his time at the University. As treasurer of the University’s Wildlife Society and a biology learning assistant, he contributed to both academic and student-led initiatives. As Esparza departs for his Peace Corps assignment, his journey illustrates how seizing opportunities can lead to meaningful careers. From Sri Lanka to Panama, his story is just beginning — and the world is watching where his passion will take him next.