Kiandra Rajala

Kiandra Rajala is the Regional Social Scientist for the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Based in the Science Applications program, Kiandra works across USFWS programs and with external partners to address the human dimensions and social dynamics of conservation through social science insights, application, and integration. 

Kiandra’s previous research and current professional interests include private lands conservation, understanding people’s relationship with places and preferences for ecosystem services, identifying constraining and enabling factors related to key conservation behaviors, and enhancing collaborative conservation.  

Kiandra received her M.S. from Virginia Tech’s Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation (2018) and holds dual B.S. degrees from University of Montana (2013) in Forestry and Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management.