Meilynn Smith

About Meilynn Smith

I’m a junior at Grinnell College, studying biology and anthropology. I plan to graduate a semester early, in December 2026. I have a passion for wildlife conservation and photography. On campus, I work for the college newspaper, The Scarlet and Black, as a staff photographer. I was recently recognized at the Iowa College Media Association for my photojournalism. I also work in the Athletic Training Room as a student assistant. I work closely with student-athletes on campus, as I was also a student-athlete, playing on the varsity women’s soccer team.This Fall, I had the opportunity to travel abroad to rural Queensland, Australia with the School for Field Studies. I studied the vast biodiversity of the wet tropics in Northern Queensland, learning about different environmental threats that have caused rainforest fragmentation, species loss, and reef die-off. We worked closely with the Yidinji and Mbabaram Indigenous people and Tablelands communities on restoration and management projects to help Australia thrive in a time of ecological uncertainty.

Experience

1. Team Captain

   Gradimages

   Jun 2025 — Present

Education

• Columbia River High School

  International Baccalaureate Diploma Recipient

• Grinnell College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Biology & Anthropology

• The School for Field Studies

  Biology, General