Cierra Freese, Class of ’25: Non-traditional Ecampus student finds her calling in wildlife conservation

A lifelong love of wildlife, shaped by family and film

Freese traces her love of nature back to childhood. She grew up spending time outdoors with her grandmother, a bird lover who taught her to respect and observe the natural world. That early appreciation grew into fascination, especially with wolves, after watching the animated film Balto.

“Wolves became my favorite animal,” she said. “I did all my course studies on them, and it snowballed into this passion.”

After graduating high school in 2012, Freese initially pursued marketing and business but found the coursework uninspiring. She left college early and entered the workforce, but the desire to work with animals never left. In 2020, as life slowed down and the world shifted, she decided to go back to school.

Oregon State’s Ecampus gave her the flexibility to study from her home in northern Michigan, where she now lives with her partner and their six animals — two huskies, two cats and two guinea pigs.

Freese admits she was nervous to be an older, nontraditional student returning to higher education.

“There was a gap between the last time I was in school and now, and I had a completely different background,” she said. “But there were great professors who made it feel like a regular college class. I felt included.”

Balancing her studies with a full-time job — and, at one point, two jobs — was difficult. However, the online format allowed her to stay on track while supporting herself financially and maintaining close ties with family and friends.

Turning coursework into real-world conservation work

In early 2023, Freese spent three months in Whangārei, New Zealand, completing an internship at Kiwi North through OSU’s IE3 Global program. Just two hours north of Auckland, Kiwi North is a 62-acre park featuring native wildlife exhibits, the Whangārei Museum and Northland’s only captive kiwi viewing facility. Its mission centers on preserving both natural and cultural history for future generations.

Each day began with a team meeting between Freese and one other staff member. The pair would go over husbandry tasks for the day, including preparing diets. All the food is prepared by hand and based on recommendations from experts at Massey University. The kiwis and geckos eat locusts, mealworms, slaters and more.

“My biggest message, especially with kids, is this: Everything is temporary if we don’t take care of it. We are the stewards of the things we care most about.”

After cleaning all the enclosures, Freese supported visitor education programs.

“We did hands-on experiences where we took the geckos out, handled them in front of guests and let people interact on a more personal level,” she said.

While her favorite animal to care for was a kiwi named Disco, their interaction was limited to ensure the chick remained wild for future release. Kiwi populations are declining due to various threats, making release even more crucial.

“We only went in while she was sleeping, kept the lights off and mimicked her natural environment,” Freese said. “It was an amazing experience to be part of her care, even from a distance.”

When she returned to Michigan, she started volunteering with the Association to Rescue Kritters, which rehabilitates hundreds of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife each year. She helped care for raptors like Zero, a blind barred owl who now serves as an ambassador for public education.

Both experiences gave her a taste of hands-on wildlife work, complementing her studies and building confidence in her career path.

“My biggest message, especially with kids, is this: Everything is temporary if we don’t take care of it,” she said. “We are the stewards of the things we care most about.”

Teaching the next generation

Today, Freese works full-time as an interpreter for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac, Michigan. She leads outdoor education programs for students and the public, including archery, fishing and conservation lessons.

While she enjoys this role, her ultimate goal is to join the DNR’s wildlife division and focus on species protection — especially wolves.

“There’s a lot of mixed messaging about wolf conservation, especially around agriculture,” she said. “Anything to do with the wolf population and their conservation would be my dream job.”

Advice for nontraditional students

Freese wants other students returning to school later in life to know they belong.

“Don’t think you’re any less capable because you’re at a different point in life."

“Don’t think you’re any less capable because you’re at a different point in life,” she said. “Now that I’m at the end of my degree, I feel so empowered and confident. I feel ready to take on my career and do all the things that I’ve wanted to.”

Because of special friends like Zero and Disco, she has even more inspiration to be a steward of the things she cares about.

“I just want to feel like I’m doing something meaningful,” she said. “Whether it’s conservation, education or research, I want to make a difference.”