Her Story
About Kelly
Kelly Griffin is a Staff Scientist at Terracon Consultants, where she has spent the past three years working in environmental consulting and natural resources. Based in Austin, Texas, she specializes in ecological assessments and wildlife conservation, with a focus on protecting natural resources and sensitive species. Her work includes aquatic resource delineations, threatened and endangered species habitat assessments, bat surveys, migratory bird nesting surveys, and salamander surveys.
Kelly’s academic background is rooted in anthropology, geography, and environmental science. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Texas State University, where she explored cultural studies and gained professional experience through internships with the Witte Museum’s Collections Department and the Texas Historical Commission’s Marine Archaeology Division. She later returned to Texas State University to earn a Master of Applied Geography with an emphasis in Environmental Studies and Natural Resources, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in 2023.
Her transition from anthropology into environmental consulting reflects her interest in understanding the connections between people, ecosystems, and conservation. She has developed a particular passion for wildlife conservation, especially bat research and protection. Kelly volunteers with organizations including Merlin Tuttle Bat Conservation, Bat Conservation International, and the Austin Bat Refuge, including at Bracken Cave near San Antonio. Through these experiences, she has gained hands-on expertise in bat monitoring, acoustic surveys, mist-netting, and wildlife data collection.
Kelly credits mentors such as Dianne Odegard and Bridgette Zapalac, as well as the support of her family and colleagues, with helping shape her career. She believes that authenticity, honesty, and kindness are important both personally and professionally, and she strives to bring those values into her work as an environmental scientist and conservation advocate.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I’m fortunate to have a really strong support system around me, both at home and at work. I have people in my life who have always believed in me and encouraged me to keep going during times when I may have doubted myself. My husband has been especially supportive, and that support means even more to me now as we prepare to welcome our first child in January.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to recognize your own worth. You deserve to be where your hard work and dedication have brought you, even when self-doubt makes you question whether you belong. Trust yourself, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to take up space in the places you’ve worked hard to earn a seat at the table.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Volunteer every chance you get! You can learn so much through volunteering, gain hands-on experience, and meet so many different people. You never know when one of those connections may become a valuable relationship or even open the door to an opportunity you wouldn’t have otherwise had.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
We work with developers, and I really value being able to bring my knowledge of protected species and natural resources to the table. A big part of what we do is educating them about the resources that could be affected by their projects and helping them find ways to avoid or minimize impacts. I enjoy being able to use my knowledge to advocate for and protect the environment while helping people better understand why those resources are important.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity, honesty, and kindness. I think it’s important to feel like you can be your most authentic self, be honest with the people around you, and treat others with kindness. It may seem simple, but those qualities really go a long way and can make a meaningful difference in the people around you.
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