Deonna Cousins

Deonna Cousins' involvement at the University of Maryland includes her position as a Resident Assistant in upperclassmen apartment housing and her leadership position as the Social Director for 17 for Peace and Justice, an Environmental Science Social Injustice Organization on campus. In both leadership positions, she has hosted and volunteered for cleanups in the Prince George's County area, participated in protests against minority social disparities in Washington D.C. as well as planned social events that allowed for students to practice advocacy and connect over hot chocolate, snacks, or arts and craft activities to lighten the mood after heavy protesting, outreach, or volunteering events. In addition to her leadership roles, Deonna has worked in Washington, DC as a wildlife rehabilitation intern for small wildlife species that are native to the DMV. This internship helped cultivate her aspiring career choice as a Wildlife Conservationist/Rehabilitator.  She learned so much from this opportunity including ethical animal practices, how to hand feed small baby mammals and avian species, how to provide subcutaneous injections of fluids/medicines, and she learned how to perform x-rays on all species housed at the facility. Deonna currently works in Bethesda, Maryland as a Laboratory Animal Research Technician. Her job is to safely and ethically use lab animals for research practices to discover new medicines to help cure illnesses for human/animal populations.