Introduction

Hello Everyone!

My name is Val, and I am a Program Assistant for the National Recreation Fee Program.

I am originally from Peru, although I spent most of my childhood in Northern California. I attended Portland State University for my undergraduate and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and a minor in Sustainability in 2020. Since then, I have worked for the Forest Service as a Resource Assistant in Sustainability and Climate, and as a seasonal Biological Science Technician studying fire ecology for the Rocky Mountain Research Station. This valuable and well rounded experience has done wonders in informing my career direction, and this term of the RA Program working on a national level team is the cherry on top. I hope to continue to work in the realm of communications in the science and conservation world moving forward.

Under my current position, I am working out of Portland, Oregon on a recreation fee inquiry with a WO Team. We are aiming to improve communication to forests and units about federal recreation fees, their purpose, the legislation behind them, and the best practices for revenue management. I ‘m very excited to gain familiarity with the business and finance world, and be able to assist in communicating the WO’s program of work to ground level employees.

Thanks for reading!