Name: Dr. Doug McElroy
Title: Professor of Biology

Role on Trip: My role is to help the students prepare for and lead the discussions at the heart of the Wildlife, Economic and Cultural Diversity of Kenya course, and to help move forward the research efforts on sustainable development at Kasigau Ranch.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: Our trip last year laid the groundwork for our teaching and research partnerships. This year, I’m anxious to watch how our students each bring their unique skills and perspectives to bear on solving real problems and to developing a collective perspective of a distinct culture. On a personal note, seeing the Great Rift Valley again (this time from the air) is my top priority.

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Name: Dr. Michael Stokes
Title: Associate Professor of Biology

Role on the trip: My role is to coordinate the research efforts at Kasigau as part of the EPA P3 grant. I will also be contributing to the discussion course, and teaching a GPS workshop for WKU and Kenyan students and researchers.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I’m really excited about the possibilities for the research we will be conducting at Kasigau. If we are successful, I think we have a great chance to receive larger, long-term Phase II funding through the student competition in Washington, DC this spring. That will really show the quality of our students and our project – at the same time, it will mean that we’re really helping people.

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Name:

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I am so excited about traveling abroad to Kenya. I love the diverse wildlife there and the mammals are especially interesting to me. I hope to discover myself along with the amazing ecosystems of Africa.

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Name: Robin Brotherton
Hometown: Somerset, Ky.
Major: Biology/Chemistry

Role On Trip: Will be working with biological aspect of research.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I have never been out of the country and think it will be a great opportunity to experience other cultures and the issues they deal with.


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Name: Allison Harnish
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Major: Anthropology, sociology

Role on trip: My job is to construct a questionnaire and organize a group discussion which will help us determine what the local attitudes are toward ecotourism and the bushmeat trade.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I have always wanted to go to Africa. I love to travel and I love learning about different peoples and cultures. I am eager to put to use all that I've learned in my anthropology and sociology classes.

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Name: Katherine Jones, daughter of Dr. McElroy
Hometown: W.R. McNeil Elementary.
Interests: Science, especially animals

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I really want to see all the animals in their natural environment. I read a book about the Maasai, and I’m excited that we’ll get to live with them for a night. I also want to meet Nicole Kimwele and see what her life is like.

Name: Kendra Jones, wife of Dr. McElroy
Hometown: Bowling Green, Ky.

Role on Trip: My role is to help develop a business relationship that will allow the women of Kasigau to market the baskets and other items they produce. I’ll also continue to work on acquiring corporate donations of medical equipment for St. James Hospital in Nairobi. Most important, my job is to make sure the girls, Kate and Katherine, have an amazing experience.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I love the beauty and people of Kenya. I can’t wait to back, to visit new and familiar places, and renew the friendships we made last year. I’ll get to see the country through the kids’ eyes this time, which will bring a whole new dimension to the experience.

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Name: Natalie Jones
Hometown: Covington, Ky.
Graduate Student: Biology-Biodiversity Center

Role on trip: I'll will begin my thesis research on this trip. I'm focusing on the effects of ecotourism on animal behavior and community attitudes. This is just the beginning for me as I will be returning to Kenya in January and for three month’s next summer to continue my research. On this trip I will also be assisting with many other projects as needed.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: Going to Africa has been a lifelong dream. The opportunity to have an impact through research is amazing and I'm sure the trip will be life changing!

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Name: Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, wife of Dr. Stokes
Hometown: Bowling Green, Ky.

Role on Trip: Faculty and student support as well as photo documentation in conjunction with Chet White.

Name: Maggie Mahan
Hometown: Bowling Green, Ky.
Major: Biology with interest in animal behaviors and animal rehabilitation.

Role On trip: Hopefully on the trip I will be doing everything and anything, I do not yet know what exactly mypart is going to be in the whole. I know we will be working on testing meat, checking to see if it is cow or wild bush meat. I want to work with the villagers and gain in first hand experience.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I have plans to join the Peace Corps and will be looking at this trip as a peek into the future and a huge learning experience. I cannot wait to experience the sounds, sights, smell, and feel of everything. I want to soak in as much as possible from the environment and the people that help to shape it. We learn from example and then we teach.

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Name: Kate McElroy, daughter of Dr. McElroy
School: Bowling Green Junior High
Interests: Creative writing and science

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I want to experience everything – it’ll be like going to a different world. I’m going to be recording lots of things in my journal so I will always remember them. I can’t wait to meet my friend Nicole Kimwele.

Name:  Tiffany Ogunsanya
Hometown:  Frankfort, Ky.
Major:  Biology

Role on trip:   I will help develop a sustainable ecologically based model for wildlife on the Kasgau Ranch for a rural community in Kenya.  I will also work with students from the University of Nairobi and together we will; survey the wildlife on the ranch, plan an ecotourism facility, and survey local and regional meat markets.

Why I am looking forward to the trip:  The trip to Kenya is exciting because I will have the chance to gain experience working with wildlife.  I'm also looking forward to working with the Kasigau tribe in Kenya & playing a role in helping them use their wildlife to build their economy.  I am also excited about the trip because it will be the first visit to Africa & I will have an opportunity to experience the different African cultures.  This trip will help me understand the vital connection between the survival of endangered wildlife & poor rural communities.

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Name:  Matthew Ransdell
Hometown:  Bowling Green
Major:  Political Science  Minor:  English Writing  (I also play baseball for WKU)

Role on trip:  I will be getting info and researching politics and wildlife.  i.e. poaching, illegal bushmeat, and wildlife conservation laws and money distribution.

Why I am looking forward to the trip:  Experiencing a different culture and their ways of living, as well as seeing all of the exotic animals in their natural habitats.

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Name: Bradley Smith
Hometown: Louisville
Major: Biology

Role on trip: I will be assisting in the collection of meat from various markets around Kenya, including Nairobi and the area surrounding the Kasigau ranch.  We will be testing these samples upon our return to determine whether they were obtained from domesticated animals or poached from the indigenous wildlife.  In addition I will assist the others in the projects that they are engaged in.  This will all be done with the help and expertise of the students and faculty from the University of Nairobi.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: I had the excellent fortune to be able to go to Kenya last year with Western and am looking forward to being able to reinforce my understanding of the people, culture and wildlife with this trip.  In addition I am excited about experiencing
new aspects of the country as well as cementing my relationships with the people I have met there.

Name: Chet White
Hometown: Louisville
Major: Photojournalism

Role on the trip: My main purpose is to document the Kenya trip. I’ll be doing still images as well as video and audio. After the trip, I’ll combine everything into a multimedia presentation.

Why I am looking forward to the trip: This is an opportunity of a lifetime. To experience different cultures will hopefully give me a better outlook on life, or should I say a more meaningful perspective on life. I couldn’t ask for a better place to make photographs. It’s Africa.

READ CHET'S JOURNAL