5 Questions with Gregory Godwin of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Gregory Godwin graduated from the College of Natural Resources in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology. As an undergraduate, his concentration was in conservation biology.

Godwin now works as a wildlife conservation biologist for District 4 with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. After graduation, he became a full-time conservation technician with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and was later promoted to his current position in December 2024.

During his studies, Godwin assisted Christopher DePerno in creating the first student-led Delta Waterfowl chapter in the country and served as its first secretary. He was also a member of the Leopold Wildlife Club and the Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honor Society.

Godwin was a recipient of the Hoffman Forest Academic Scholarship for Summer Camp. He also received the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation STEM Scholarship and the Harnett County Farm City Week Scholarship from NC Cooperative Extension.

We recently spoke with Godwin to learn more about his decision to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at the College of Natural Resources and how his time in the program prepared him for his role with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

What is a typical day in your job like?

Gregory Godwin: A typical day in my job consists of providing technical guidance about habitat management to private landowners. I provide technical guidance through a variety of ways, including phone calls with private landowners, in-person site visits of landowner properties or the completion of wildlife management plans.

With my cover area being District 4, I am responsible for assisting private landowners over a large area that consists of nine counties. Additionally, I frequently assist our district biologist with a variety of other duties within our district, including sampling deer for chronic wasting disease, responding to human-wildlife interaction calls and participating in dove and duck banding, to name a few. The fact that each day is something new is one of the best parts of my job.

What inspired you to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology?

Godwin: The hunting and fishing lifestyle that was passed down to me from my grandpa played the most significant role in inspiring me to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology. In fact, many of my earliest memories come directly from the dove field as my grandpa introduced me to the world of hunting.

As I got older, the early mornings in a deer stand or a duck blind, seeing the sun come up and the natural world around you come to life, quickly became my favorite part of being outdoors. However, while in high school, my natural resources and horticulture teacher introduced me to the fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology program.

Before this happened, I had no idea that wildlife conservation was actually a career I could pursue; but on that day, I knew I had found my dream career. Since that day, the desire to conserve wildlife for future generations has been the driving force of my life, and moving forward, I hope to leave an impact on conservation throughout the entirety of my career.

What impact are you making through your position?

Godwin: Through my position, I can directly impact the habitat that landowners maintain on their property, which is very rewarding —especially for species like the northern bobwhite quail, which is struggling due to habitat loss across the Southeast. Several landowners, with the assistance of our agency’s technical guidance, have gone all in on quail management and are now frequently hearing quail on their property again.

Some of the most rewarding days are when I get a text saying, “Gregory, listen to the quail I have on the farm,” or “Look how many wild turkey poults I have on my trail camera.” Interactions like these remind me that I am not only making a difference on a personal level, but also positively contributing to the success of a variety of species in our state.

How did the college prepare you for your current position?

Godwin: The College of Natural Resources did an excellent job preparing me for my current position. The courses offered through the program covered many of the same topics I use daily in my work, especially FW 404: Wildlife Habitat Management and FW 353: Wildlife Management. Both of these classes emphasized wildlife management through habitat and population management — two key factors in developing a strong wildlife management plan for a private landowner.

Most importantly, I would not be where I am today without the fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology summer field practicum at Hill Forest. The field practicum not only provided real, hands-on experience in wildlife conservation, but also allowed me to meet a variety of professionals in the field—many of whom I have remained in close contact with since meeting them at Slocum Camp. Additionally, I earned my drone pilot license and Firefighter Type 2 certification through courses at NC State.

What advice do you have for current College of Natural Resources students?

Godwin: Take advantage of every opportunity to gain experience that will help you prepare for the workforce. Whether it’s an early-morning bird walk with Christopher Moorman or a volunteer activity through the Leopold Wildlife Club, seize every opportunity while you’re in school.

I know you’d rather do other things on the weekend, but your work experience begins now. The more you can add to your resume while in college, the more it demonstrates not only your ability to accomplish tasks but also your commitment to achieving your goals.

Lastly, take advantage of opportunities to get to know your professors. Each positive interaction you have with a professor can lead to new opportunities down the road.