Monique-Sosnowski
Meet the SES Alum Fighting International Wildlife Crime
Monique Sosnowski, PhD, graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2016 with a double major in environmental studies and psychology. As an undergraduate, she explored her interests in environmental sustainability and developed a passion for wildlife conservation. Today, she works to protect threatened and endangered species as a wildlife crime specialist and an assistant professor of criminal justice at Farmingdale State College SUNY in New York.
SES alum Monique Sosnowski, PhD, develops strategies to enforce laws and regulations that protect endangered and threatened wildlife.
Sosnowski chose Loyola for her undergraduate education because she wanted to gain a holistic understanding of environmental issues. Loyola's Institute for Environmental Sustainability—now the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES)—offered an interdisciplinary curriculum that allowed her to learn about a broad range of topics, including climate change, ecology, and environmental economics. She was also drawn to the university's location next to Lake Michigan, the school's facilities, and the opportunities to study abroad.
Her studies and activities at Loyola exposed Sosnowski to diverse facets of environmental work. She got involved in the university's composting initiative, volunteered with the Urban Agriculture program, and explored international conservation work through study abroad programs. She said one highlight of her college experience was the opportunity to complete an internship with a cheetah conservation program in Namibia. She also participated in a study abroad program in Belize, led by SES faculty member Steven Mitten, SJ. In Belize, she learned about the country's culture, rich ecology, and environmental challenges.
"This trip made a lifelong impact on me, and I would recommend it to any and all students in the future," she said.
A study abroad trip to Belize deepened Sosnowski's passion for wildlife conservation.
Sosnowski said the interdisciplinary nature of her Loyola experience allowed her to try different things and discover which aspects of environmental sustainability interested her most, leading her to focus on wildlife conservation.
After graduating from Loyola, she earned a master of science in global wildlife health and conservation from the University of Bristol in the UK. Her thesis research examined the price of ivory since the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) announced an international ban on the ivory trade in 1989.
When considering what to do after completing her master's degree, Sosnowski started researching careers in wildlife protection. She came across a research paper on wildlife crime by criminologist Gohar Petrossian, PhD. The paper focused on preventing crimes such as wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing. Sosnowski realized this was the type of work she wanted to do but would need to shift her educational trajectory to focus on criminal justice. She contacted Petrossian, who encouraged her to apply for PhD programs in the field.
In 2023, Sosnowski completed her doctoral degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where Petrossian is an associate professor. She then took on her current position as an assistant professor in the Center for Criminal Justice at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, New York.
Sosnowski earned her PhD from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
Today, Sosnowski works to develop strategies to prevent wildlife crime and enforce laws and regulations that protect threatened animals and ecosystems. For example, in a recent study, she investigated how transshipment, the exchange of goods between vessels at sea, can obscure criminal activities. Such crimes include illegal fishing that depletes fisheries and harms marine environments. Based on the research findings, she and her coinvestigators recommended strategies for protecting fisheries by improving the regulation and monitoring of global transshipping activities.
In another study, Sosnowski and Petrossian explored the trade in luxury wildlife contraband destined for the United States fashion industry. They examined data on import seizures by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and found that products made from reptile species, such as python skins, were the most common types of contraband. The researchers recommended that regulators enact policies on the use of exotic leathers, such as reptile leathers, to protect wild populations, improve the welfare of farmed and bred animals, and promote sustainability in the fashion industry. A story about the findings appeared in National Geographic.
Sosnowski has studied the illegal trade in wildlife products such as animal skins and exotic leathers.
Sosnowski says it is rewarding to work with real data, collaborate with teams in the field to solve wildlife crime problems, and see solutions enacted based on her research. She also finds her work as an educator meaningful.
"I enjoy experiencing the excitement of students who discover environmental crime through my classes and decide to engage in research or coursework to explore more," she said.
As a college professor, Sosnowski is committed to fostering a safe and exciting learning environment that encourages students to explore their interests, just as she was able to do at Loyola.
"I look back on my time at Loyola with fond memories and am thankful for all the opportunities that were provided to me throughout my four years. They helped shape me into the person I have become and have helped guide me into the career I have today," she said.
Sosnowski advises current Loyola environmental sustainability students to relish their college years and use them to engage with diverse topics, discover their passions, and begin to forge their own unique paths to meaningful and impactful careers.
Sosnowski chose Loyola for her undergraduate education because she wanted to gain a holistic understanding of environmental issues. Loyola's Institute for Environmental Sustainability—now the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES)—offered an interdisciplinary curriculum that allowed her to learn about a broad range of topics, including climate change, ecology, and environmental economics. She was also drawn to the university's location next to Lake Michigan, the school's facilities, and the opportunities to study abroad.
Her studies and activities at Loyola exposed Sosnowski to diverse facets of environmental work. She got involved in the university's composting initiative, volunteered with the Urban Agriculture program, and explored international conservation work through study abroad programs. She said one highlight of her college experience was the opportunity to complete an internship with a cheetah conservation program in Namibia. She also participated in a study abroad program in Belize, led by SES faculty member Steven Mitten, SJ. In Belize, she learned about the country's culture, rich ecology, and environmental challenges.
"This trip made a lifelong impact on me, and I would recommend it to any and all students in the future," she said.
Sosnowski said the interdisciplinary nature of her Loyola experience allowed her to try different things and discover which aspects of environmental sustainability interested her most, leading her to focus on wildlife conservation.
After graduating from Loyola, she earned a master of science in global wildlife health and conservation from the University of Bristol in the UK. Her thesis research examined the price of ivory since the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) announced an international ban on the ivory trade in 1989.
When considering what to do after completing her master's degree, Sosnowski started researching careers in wildlife protection. She came across a research paper on wildlife crime by criminologist Gohar Petrossian, PhD. The paper focused on preventing crimes such as wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing. Sosnowski realized this was the type of work she wanted to do but would need to shift her educational trajectory to focus on criminal justice. She contacted Petrossian, who encouraged her to apply for PhD programs in the field.
In 2023, Sosnowski completed her doctoral degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where Petrossian is an associate professor. She then took on her current position as an assistant professor in the Center for Criminal Justice at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, New York.
Today, Sosnowski works to develop strategies to prevent wildlife crime and enforce laws and regulations that protect threatened animals and ecosystems. For example, in a recent study, she investigated how transshipment, the exchange of goods between vessels at sea, can obscure criminal activities. Such crimes include illegal fishing that depletes fisheries and harms marine environments. Based on the research findings, she and her coinvestigators recommended strategies for protecting fisheries by improving the regulation and monitoring of global transshipping activities.
In another study, Sosnowski and Petrossian explored the trade in luxury wildlife contraband destined for the United States fashion industry. They examined data on import seizures by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and found that products made from reptile species, such as python skins, were the most common types of contraband. The researchers recommended that regulators enact policies on the use of exotic leathers, such as reptile leathers, to protect wild populations, improve the welfare of farmed and bred animals, and promote sustainability in the fashion industry. A story about the findings appeared in National Geographic.
Sosnowski says it is rewarding to work with real data, collaborate with teams in the field to solve wildlife crime problems, and see solutions enacted based on her research. She also finds her work as an educator meaningful.
"I enjoy experiencing the excitement of students who discover environmental crime through my classes and decide to engage in research or coursework to explore more," she said.
As a college professor, Sosnowski is committed to fostering a safe and exciting learning environment that encourages students to explore their interests, just as she was able to do at Loyola.
"I look back on my time at Loyola with fond memories and am thankful for all the opportunities that were provided to me throughout my four years. They helped shape me into the person I have become and have helped guide me into the career I have today," she said.
Sosnowski advises current Loyola environmental sustainability students to relish their college years and use them to engage with diverse topics, discover their passions, and begin to forge their own unique paths to meaningful and impactful careers.