Charles Dion

Background

About Charles Dion

A current senior at Beacon College, I will graduate in May 2025 with a BS in Anthrozoology and a minor in Education, with a 4.0 GPA and having held multiple leadership positions. For example, I am the Student Body President, and the founder and president of the school's largest club, the Lightsaber Dueling Club. I am passionate about teaching others about animals, ecology, and conservation. I was an Education Intern at the Duke University Lemur Center where I gained experience with a full range of high-quality educational programming and the substantive knowledge of the animals and conservation practices so that I could lead programs. For my internship capstone project, I created a tour for individuals with developmental and learning disabilities. The tour was successful, received contributions to support it, and has become a part of Duke Lemur Center's regular offerings. I am an experienced Teaching Assistant and Peer Tutor in lower and upper-level classes Florida Ecology, Animals in the Public Eye, and Educating about Animals. I have also been an Animal Care Technician, an Orientation Leader, and a guest teacher at professors' requests. I am certified in animal handling and husbandry and have completed courses through the George Mason University Smithsonian Institute for Conservation and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Academy. I have a particular love for all things crocodilian and will complete my senior research capstone on the use of the American Alligator in the classroom as an ambassador animal to positively influence people's views of alligators beginning at an early age. Besides my academic and professional achievements, I am also proud of my journey as a student on the autism spectrum. I have overcome many obstacles and challenges, and I have been invited to speak at various conferences and events for educators, and written about in publications. My dream is to inspire and empower others to connect with nature in their community through my teaching and advocacy, thus having a positive impact on conservation. After graduation, I hope to find employment in an educational role at an accredited facility while I pursue my master's and then doctorate degrees. Being that college was where I found the greatest inspiration, I hope to someday return to the classroom as a college professor where I can make a difference in other students' lives, hopefully even impacting their passion for conservation.