Born and raised in the city of Chicago, Lily Calderón identifies as a Latina with Mexican roots. A childhood in the city did prove a bit difficult, but not impossible for a conservationist to be raised. Family outings at the local forest preserve and day trips to the dunes along Lake Michigan helped to inspire Lily to pursue a career in ecology. Since her childhood experiences in nature, Lily acquired her undergraduate degree in Integrative Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she has participated in various field jobs across the western hemisphere, and is currently working on her Master's degree in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Lily's Master's project is focused on the stopover ecology of long-distance migratory birds that cross the Gulf of Mexico during spring and autumn migration. This research will hopefully assist in the conservation of migratory birds, an animal group Lily holds near and dear to her heart. Lily's favorite past times include hiking, traveling and birdwatching. She absolutely enjoys sharing her avian knowledge with the people around her. As for the future, Lily is passionate about pursuing a profession where she can further serve the environment and her community simultaneously.