{"id":1472,"date":"2026-06-16T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/?p=1472"},"modified":"2026-06-17T09:52:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:52:05","slug":"leadership-in-the-tides-tnoya-thompson-on-conservation-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/2026\/06\/leadership-in-the-tides-tnoya-thompson-on-conservation-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership in the Tides: T&#8217;Noya Thompson on Conservation &amp; Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"690\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-4.24.32-PM-1024x690.png\" alt=\"Kevin Matteson and T&apos;Noya Thompson\" class=\"wp-image-1473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-4.24.32-PM-1024x690.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-4.24.32-PM-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-4.24.32-PM-768x517.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-4.24.32-PM.png 1464w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">T&#8217;Noya Thompson joins Kevin Matteson to discuss her Global Field Program and leadership journey including the creation of the Bahamas Earth Expeditions course.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the vibrant reefs of the Bahamas to the desert landscapes of Baja,&nbsp;<strong>T&#8217;Noya Thompson<\/strong>&nbsp;has transformed her lifelong love for the ocean into a career of deep impact. In this episode, host&nbsp;<strong>Kevin Matteson<\/strong>&nbsp;explores T&#8217;Noya\u2019s journey from a zookeeper at Moody Gardens to becoming a PhD candidate, the owner of Wild Spark Consulting, and the first Wildlife Coexistence Fellow at the Cincinnati Zoo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f9faaab3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VJvnlW3GbaA?si=dYv5XDZchtvsf97H\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"68\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/youtube-image-removebg-preview-300x68.png\" alt=\"Listen on Youtube\" class=\"wp-image-432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/youtube-image-removebg-preview-300x68.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/youtube-image-removebg-preview-1024x233.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/youtube-image-removebg-preview-768x175.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/youtube-image-removebg-preview.png 1047w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/leadership-in-the-tides-conservation-culture-with\/id1866616919?i=1000772377184\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"71\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/apple-podcast-1-300x71.png\" alt=\"Listen on Apple Podcast\" class=\"wp-image-435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/apple-podcast-1-300x71.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/apple-podcast-1-768x182.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/apple-podcast-1.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/2CrEUjVnMe27QeniPfq7d7?si=seQy8aDaQ-SrsNgMS7HL5A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"73\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/Spotify-300x73.png\" alt=\"List on Spotify\" class=\"wp-image-437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/Spotify-300x73.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/Spotify-768x186.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/01\/Spotify.png 1015w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3 Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The &#8220;Organization as an Ecosystem&#8221;:<\/strong>&nbsp;T&#8217;Noya\u2019s PhD research treats conservation organizations like living systems. She is investigating the link between organizational culture and staff turnover, arguing that we must protect the people doing the work just as fiercely as we protect the wildlife.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Building a Legacy in the Bahamas:<\/strong>&nbsp;After a chance meeting at her Master\u2019s graduation with Dr. Ancilleno Davis, T&#8217;Noya co-founded &#8220;Bahamians, Birds, and Botany.&#8221; This citizen science program for teens provides the kind of early exposure to nature that T&#8217;Noya had to seek out on her own as a child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The &#8220;Day 4&#8221; Transformation:<\/strong>&nbsp;On Earth Expeditions, there is often a pivotal moment around the fourth day where the distance from home sets in. T&#8217;Noya shares how overcoming this emotional hurdle, through journaling and peer support, allowed her to be fully present and form authentic, lifelong kinships with her cohort.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The &#8220;Hidden Gem&#8221; Teaser<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen for the heartwarming story of 12-year-old T&#8217;Noya calling up a local aquarium in Nassau to volunteer. Despite there being no formal program, her persistence led to a formative experience chopping fish and leading stingray talks\u2014a &#8220;first spark&#8221; that eventually led her to help design our newest Earth Expeditions course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/DSCN2769-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A Project Dragonfly student snorkeling in The Bahamas.\" class=\"wp-image-1474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/DSCN2769-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/DSCN2769-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/DSCN2769-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/DSCN2769-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/files\/2026\/05\/DSCN2769-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">T&#8217;Noya Thompson discusses her transition from a young volunteer at a Nassau aquarium to a conservation leader, emphasizing the importance of immersive ocean experiences for Bahamian youth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><strong><em>Listen to the episode on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/leadership-in-the-tides-conservation-culture-with\/id1866616919?i=1000772377184\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/2CrEUjVnMe27QeniPfq7d7?si=seQy8aDaQ-SrsNgMS7HL5A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VJvnlW3GbaA?si=dYv5XDZchtvsf97H\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">YouTube<\/a>,<strong><em><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>or on your favorite podcast platform.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Check out the full list of podcasts on our <a data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"464\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/\/dragonfly\/dragonfly-conversations\/\">Dragonfly Conversations<\/a><\/strong> <strong>page<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the vibrant reefs of the Bahamas to the desert landscapes of Baja,&nbsp;T&#8217;Noya Thompson&nbsp;has transformed her lifelong love for the ocean into a career of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9421,"featured_media":1473,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[13,27],"class_list":["post-1472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dragonfly-conversations","tag-dragonfly-community","tag-inquiry-based-learning"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.8 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From the vibrant reefs of the Bahamas to the desert landscapes of Baja, T&#039;Noya Thompson has transformed her lifelong love for the ocean into a career of deep impact. 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