Polly Conrad 3515 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah

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1 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Polly Conrad Lecturer Utah State University, Management Information Systems Current Logan, Utah Teach a high- quality business communication course, where innovative methods and new technologies are utilized to emphasize written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills Work with other instructors in a team environment to assist with curriculum development Assist with identifying, writing and reviewing grant proposals Academic Advisor Utah State University, Department of Biology 2014 Logan, Utah Provided counseling support to undergraduate students about coursework, research, degree completion, and career exploration Assisted biology students in goal- setting, planning, and strategic targeting to help shorten the time it takes for them to succeed Developed new web content to better serve USU students and the Cache Valley community Gave oral presentations to undergraduate students to recruit and retain students Product Content Writer Sigma- Aldrich Logan, Utah Effectively worked with a team of writers to develop a writing structure to increase uniformity of product content presentation written by different authors Developed and entered Sigma- Aldrich product content into a Structured Query Language (SQL) database, which was subsequently translated to the company s product website to provide product information to customers Provided sales benefits for over 3,140 Sigma- Aldrich products, including product description and application content for the web, primary literature citations associated with each product, and increased search engine optimization Communication Specialist The Orianne Society Logan, Utah Worked as part of the Communications Team to write grants, solicit foundations and other donors, recruit members into the memberships program, and develop or review communication materials (web content, social media, brochures, flyers, newsletters, membership materials, and special event materials) Coordinated the data collection, compilation, and maintenance of information about donations in a GiftWorks database (donor management software) Developed 15 proposals and was successfully awarded six grants (40% award rate) over one year Assisted with the start up of a membership program that gained over 90 members in less than one year 1

2 Wildlife Biologist Nevada Department of Wildlife Las Vegas, Nevada Wrote effective and meaningful wildlife publications, scientific reports, outreach materials, manuals, guidelines, and policies (see Publications section) Presented research and notable contributions to professionals during prominent national wildlife conferences (see Presentations section) Provided various trainings to wildlife and law enforcement professionals Participated in conservation education outreach by presenting information about wildlife at local venues and to the public Wrote grants and served as Principal Investigator for funded research studies (see Grants and Research sections) Responsible for statewide data collection, compilation, maintenance, analysis, and interpretation Worked effectively on my own to establish and run a statewide wildlife management program, but also worked very well with other wildlife management, law enforcement and conservation education teams to benefit wildlife conservation programs Utilized a Decision Support System to better manage a federally threatened species, desert tortoise Developed new web content for the Nevada Department of Wildlife website ( and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation website ( Staff Research Associate University of Nevada Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Oversaw the development and maintenance of databases for large amounts of data for several different, but related, research projects Utilized these data to determine the effectiveness of data collection techniques Managed undergraduate research students Teaching Assistant Truman State University Kirksville, Missouri Designed and delivered a curriculum with high standards of teaching and learning in line with university and department requirements for five courses, including lectures and labs Ensured students achieved the high- level of learning by exposure to a system utilizing advanced methods and adequate facilities Delivered lectures and classroom discussions; initiated hands- on, time- based workshops to determine and develop the ability of students in coping with difficult situations Worked with a team of instructors to monitor assessment procedures to uphold quality of education as reflected in syllabi, curriculum and examination templates Underwent scholarly initiatives and participated in research activities 2

3 TEACHING, TRAINING AND EDUCATION OUTREACH EXPERIENCE Twelve years of high- quality experience teaching at the college level, providing professional trainings, and implementing education programs for universities, non- profit organizations, and government agencies 2014 Current: Taught oral, written and interpersonal communication skills at the college level at Utah State University : Planned professional workshops, given to wildlife professionals at national conferences, to address energy development impacts to wildlife and wetland restoration : Assisted with the development of education/outreach materials, social media, and newsletters to educate the public about the importance of wildlife in our ecosystems : Developed educational materials about the overabundance of unwanted captive desert tortoises in Southern Nevada and presented this information to the public, zoos and veterinary offices to reduce related negative impacts to wild desert tortoise populations : Developed and implemented professional Southwest Herpetofauna Inventory and Monitoring and Habitat Management Trainings for wildlife biologists : Developed and implemented professional trainings to law enforcement officers on how to handle and relocate venomous reptiles : Developed educational materials about Nevada wildlife and presented conservation education programs to the public and at schools : Served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Truman State University, for Mammalogy, Ecology, Genetics and Introductory Biology (for majors) courses (lectures and labs) 2001: Served as a Teaching Assistant for an Anabat Workshop to train wildlife professionals how to use Anabat detection hardware and software : Served as a volunteer in the Truman State University Herpetology Lab, which included taking live reptiles and amphibians to regional schools to teach students about the importance of animals and their habitats : Served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at Truman State University and taught Introductory Biology (for majors) and Local Flora courses (labs) : Served as an Herbarium Assistant at Truman State University and gave tours of the herbarium to teach the community about local flora GRANTS Awarded $1,011,578 in funding from government, private, and non- profit sources The role of outdoor enclosures in advancing captive husbandry and reproduction in snakes sensitive to cyclic environmental conditions. Awarded $19,354 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Endowment Fund in

4 Longleaf Pine habitat restoration in southeast Georgia to benefit gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) and eastern diamond- backed rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). Awarded $150,000 by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Longleaf Pine Stewardship Fund in Development of a detailed sampling design plan for western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) and tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) to lay a foundation for future genetic analyses to validate the Columbia Plateau connectivity analysis. Awarded $11,889 by the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative in Implementation and maintenance of land restoration and conservation practices in Telfair County, Georgia, to benefit gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Awarded $44,618 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program s Working Lands for Wildlife Fund in Identifying overwintering habitat requirements of eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamenteus) through long- term occupancy modeling. Awarded $1,059 by Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Conservation Support Fund in Development and refinement of Nevada s state wildlife critical habitat assessment tool and requisite datasets. Awarded $163,400 by the Western Governors Association in Management of Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) in Nevada. Awarded $65,000 and $34,000 by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Section Six funds in 2011 and 2010, respectively. State wildlife action plan implementation resources and capacity building tools for amphibian and reptile conservation. A partnership of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and nine state wildlife agencies was awarded $465,418 by Competitive State Wildlife Grant funds Recovery plan implementation for the Mojave population of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in Nevada. Awarded $18,000 by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Section Six funds in Phylogenetic relationships of short- horned lizards (Phrynosoma hernandesi and P. douglassi) in Nevada. Awarded $30,000 by State Wildlife Grant funds Distribution of the Sonoran mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) in Nevada. Awarded $4,000 by State Wildlife Grant funds Small mammal community responses to an oak savanna restoration. Awarded $4,840 by the Missouri Department of Conservation in PRESENTATIONS Presented at eighteen local, regional, and national conferences (six invited) over ten years P. CONRAD and P. Nanjappa. Presentation of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation s Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofauna Conservation North American Wildlife and Natural Resources meeting in Crystal City, Virginia (invited); 2013 Southwest PARC meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 4

5 P. CONRAD. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation s 2013 Year of the Snake Campaign Southwest PARC meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada; 2013 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources meeting in Crystal City, Virginia; 2013 Southwest PARC meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. CONRAD, P. and P. Nanjappa. Challenges and Findings in Regulating Herpetofauna in the U.S Southwest PARC Meeting in Tucson, Arizona. CONRAD, P. and P. Nanjappa. State of the Union: Legal Authority Over the Use of Native Amphibians and Reptiles in the U.S Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan (invited); 2010 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (invited). CONRAD, P. Climate Change and the Conservation of Native Amphibians and Reptiles: A Report from the USFWS Meeting Southwest PARC meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado. CONRAD, P. and P. Nanjappa. Compilation of Herpetofauna Use Regulations in the U.S Herpetofauna Regulatory Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. CONRAD, P. National PARC Products Update Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Amphibian and Reptile Subcommittee meeting in Austin, Texas. CONRAD, P. The Nevada Department of Wildlife Amphibian and Reptile Management Program Southwest PARC meeting in St. George, Utah (invited). CONRAD, P. and C. Tomlinson. Nevada s Native Reptiles Wings and Wildlife Festival of Southern Nevada in Laughlin, Nevada. CONRAD, P. and B. Bauman. Phylogeography of Pygmy Short- horned Lizard and Greater Short- horned Lizard in Nevada Sheldon- Hart National Wildlife Refuge Symposium in Lakeview, Oregon; 2008 Southwest PARC meeting in Austin, Texas. Boykin, K. and P. CONRAD. Modeling Habitat for Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) Over Large Landscapes Lake Mead Science Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada; 2008 Southwest PARC meeting in Austin, Texas. CONRAD, P. and T. Geirmakowski. Herpetofauna Collection Regulations in the Southwestern U.S Southwest PARC meeting in Austin, Texas. CONRAD, P. and C. Lee. Herpetofauna Conservation on Private Lands in Nevada Southwest PARC meeting in Austin, Texas (invited). CONRAD, P. and B. Hamilton. Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) Surveys in the Snake Range, Nevada Southwest PARC meeting in Austin, Texas. CONRAD, P. and J. Sjöberg. Nevada s Wildlife Action Plan: Herpetofaunal Conservation Goals Southwest PARC meeting in Albuquerque, NM (invited). HIGGINS, P. and S. Burt. Small Mammal Community Responses to an Oak Savanna Restoration American Society of Mammalogists meeting in Lubbock, Texas; 2003 Truman State University Symposium in Kirksville, Missouri; 2002 Missouri Academy of Science Meeting in Springfield, Missouri; 2002 American Society of Mammalogists Meeting in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hooper, E. and P. HIGGINS. Testing McGregor s Hypothesis about the Origin of Echinacea pallida Midwest Prairie Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. 5

6 RESEARCH Developed, coordinated, and served as Principal Investigator for eight research projects over thirteen years : Banded Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum cinctum) activity patterns and habitat use in Nevada : Avian predation of juvenile desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) along transmission line corridors in the Piute- Eldorado Critical Habitat Unit : Modeling habitat for Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) over large landscapes : Raven (Corvus corax) counts at major landfill sites in Southern Nevada : Phylogenetic relationships of and habitat use by the pygmy short- horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) and the greater short- horned lizard (P. hernandesi) in Nevada : Distribution, habitat use, and activity patterns of the Sonoran mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) in Nevada : Developed and implemented a statewide reptile monitoring program: Collected consistent, comprehensive, and objective scientific data on Nevada wildlife, analyzed population data, and developed and implemented management recommendation based on science : Small mammal community responses to an oak- savanna restoration in Northeast Missouri : Testing McGregor s hypothesis about the origin of Echinacea pallida (an allopolyploid derivative of E. simulata and a second diploid species, E. sanguinea) PUBLICATIONS Authored, co- authored, or edited eighteen publications covering technical scientific articles published in competitive peer- reviewed journals, scientific guidelines and manuals, book chapters, scientific reports, and education outreach publications CONRAD, P. (In Review 2014). Desert Woodlands. In Lovich, R., L. Jones and K. Halama, Ed. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles in the Southwestern U.S. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Technical Report. Jezkova, T., A. Ambos, P. CONRAD, B. Riddle and J. Jaeger. (In Review 2014). Distribution, phylogeographic structure and habitat associations of greater and pygmy short- horned lizards (Genus Phrynosoma) in Nevada. Journal of Herpetology. CONRAD, P., L. Wier and P. Nanjappa, Eds Annual Report. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Annual Report No. 4. Hagerstown, MD. 16 pp. CONRAD, P. and P. Nanjappa Legally speaking, what can you do with amphibians and reptiles in the U.S.? Year of the Snake News 12:8. CONRAD, P The value of snakes: Snake venom can save your life. Year of the Snake News 3:1. 6

7 Breisch, A., P. CONRAD, P. Nanjappa and T. Riley, Eds Annual Report. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Annual Report No. 3 Hagerstown, MD. 24 pp. CONRAD, P Using trail cameras to observe banded Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum cinctum) in Nevada. Year of the Lizard News 3:5. CONRAD, P Southwest U.S. Inventory and Monitoring Techniques and Photo Vouchering Table In Graeter, G., K.A. Buhlman, L.R. Wilkinson and J.W. Gibbons, Ed. Inventory and Monitoring: Recommended Techniques for Reptiles and Amphibians with Applications to the United States and Canada. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Technical Report. Aiken, South Carolina. Nanjappa, P. and P. CONRAD State of the Union: Legal Authority Over the Use of Native Amphibians and Reptiles in the U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Washington, D.C. CONRAD, P. and P. Bradley Geographic range extension for the western banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) in Nevada. Herpetological Review 40(1): 112. CONRAD, P Yellow- backed Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus uniformis). In Jones, L. and R. Lovich, Ed. Lizards of the American Southwest. Rio Nuevo Publishers. Tucson, Arizona. CONRAD, P Southwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Regional Working Group In Olson, D., E. Garcia and P. Nanjappa, Ed. Ten Years of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, National Brochure No. 5. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Denver, Colorado. Hamilton, B. and P. CONRAD The Sonoran mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) in the Great Basin. International Reptile Conservation Foundation 15(2): 86. CONRAD, P. and B. Hamilton Focus on Conservation: Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana). International Reptile Conservation Foundation 14(3): 106. Hamilton, B. and P. CONRAD Geographic range extension for the ground snake (Sonora semiannulata) in Nevada. Herpetological Review 38(1): 106. Robinson, M.L., P. CONRAD and M. Ryan Nevada s Venomous Reptiles, 2 nd Ed. Brochure SP Nevada State Printing Office. Carson City, Nevada. CONRAD, P Reptiles In Wildlife Diversity Species Investigations. S.J. Atkinson, L.A. Neel, L. Richards and C.R. Tomlinson, Ed. Job Performance Report for State Wildlife Grant. Nevada Department of Wildlife. Reno, Nevada. HIGGINS, P Small Mammal Community Responses to an Oak Savanna Restoration. M.S. Thesis No Truman State University. EDUCATION Truman State University Department of Biological Sciences Master of Science in Biology Ecology, 2003 Truman State University Department of Biological Sciences Bachelors of Science in Biology,

8 AWARDS AND AFFILIATIONS Western Governors Association s Critical Habitat Assessment Tool, State of Nevada Representative Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Amphibian and Reptile Subcommittee, Secretary Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), National Chair o While Chair, PARC was awarded The Wildlife Society s 2013 Group Achievement Award, which globally recognizes an organization s outstanding wildlife achievement. Nominated for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Mark Reeff Memorial Award, which nationally recognizes a distinguished young wildlife management professional for outstanding service in the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and for overcoming challenges through creative, determined initiatives of the nominee s own device Received the highest ranking exceeds standards on all employee appraisal and development reports SKILLS AND TRAININGS ESRI Introduction to Arc GIS Training Microsoft Access Database Development Training Information Technology Security Awareness Training Proficiency with Microsoft Office and MAC operating systems, including software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and Publisher Good analytical skills, methodical approach to tasks and problems Effective oral, interpersonal and written business communication skills using various communication approaches and technologies Excellent organizational and time- management skills 8