Author: Lateer, Sarah

MEET ALUMNA JUDY TAYLOR

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 I was drawn to the Environmental Studies degree because at the time I was just studying Geoscience and I wanted to supplement all the science classes I was taking with some more social science-based classes in the environmental field. EVST helped me learn how to apply technical knowledge to contemporary social and environmental issues, and made everything I was learning a bit more practicable. I am currently working as a Catastrophe Risk Analyst for Homesite Insurance In Boston. In this role I use tools like ArcGIS, SQL, and catastrophe models to analyze homeowners’ risk to various natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, etc. This has been a great role for me because it combined my background in geoscience (natural disasters, spatial data) with my background in environmental studies (environmental effects on people and business). I recommend the catastrophe risk/modeling industry to people who are interested, it’s relatively new but growing! Most insurance companies have similar teams and there are also companies who work directly on the models we use, so there are lots of opportunities out there. I am hoping to attend grad school in the Fall (still waiting on decisions, fingers crossed!) in the disaster management/community resilience field so I can do similar work but for the benefit of people, not a private company, and I think my current career as well as the environmental studies program at UConn were major factors in this decision.
I participated in the Climate Corps organized by Juliana Barrett and Bruce Hyde. I don’t have any pictures but this was a really awesome, uniquely hands-on experience that I can’t recommend enough to current students! I also did an alternative break at the Avery Point campus that focused on coastal environmental issues and involved a beach clean-up and dune restoration, which was another great out-of-the-classroom experience.
Do you have any advice for current EVST students?
I would tell current students in the EVST major to cast a wide net when thinking about post graduate plans, the EVST degree makes you qualified to do lots of different things and there are countless opportunities and industries hiring people with our background. I would also recommend while still at UConn to take advantage of opportunities to get outside the classroom like clubs or alternative breaks, these kinds of experiences can be really meaningful and helpful in figuring out what you want to do after graduating.

MEET ALUMNA SIERRA GOODWIN

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What was your major?
I graduated from the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources in December 2018. I majored in Environmental Studies and minored in Sustainable Food Crop Production. What is your current job title? Please describe your current job. I am currently an Interpretive Park Ranger at Arches National Park. Interpretive Rangers work to provide education to visitors, with the goal of helping them to connect to the park’s natural and
cultural resources. I am responsible for staffing the visitor center front desk and providing orientations, answering questions, and helping visitors plan trips into the challenging back country that comes with a high desert landscape. I create formal and informal interpretive programs, such as
campfire talks, and hike trails to connect with visitors. I also collect fees required with park entrance and back country permits. Are you currently doing what you imagined you would be doing at this point in your life? Honestly, I am currently doing what I dreamed I would be able to do at this point of my life. Last season I worked as an Interpretive Park Ranger Intern at The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, which helped prepare me for a career in a field that I have an immense love for. I have been able to work with visitors from around the world and communicate the
importance of preserving of our natural places, which is something I’d like to do for the rest of my life. The only difference is that I had not imagined that I would be in the place that I am as soon as I was able to be, and I am very grateful for that.

What was your favorite class at UConn?
It’s difficult to narrow it down to one! I would have to say my favorite classes at UConn were GEOG 3350 Global Change, Local Action with Mark Boyer and PLSC 2500 Principles and Concepts of Agroecology with Karl Guillard. Both professors are extremely passionate about the subjects that they teach and it is infectious. GEOG 3350 helped me to recognize the results of our human-environment interactions, both good and bad, and how we can sustainably move forward in an age of globalization. I think that anyone would benefit from learning the materials in this class, as we are all affected by these impacts. PLSC 2500 helped expand my knowledge of sustainable agriculture and inspired me to pursue a minor in Sustainable Food Crop Production.

What UConn course did you find most useful?
The materials from EEB 2208 Introduction to Conservation Biology have been most useful to me so far. This class covered ecological restoration, protection of ecosystem services, conservation economics and law, and how to implement conservation actions. I have found myself referring back
to information that I learned in this class.

What is your fondest memory of UConn?
My fondest memory at UConn would be any of the glorious sunsets spent at Horse Barn Hill, where you could find me petting the cows or laying in the tall grass.

Do you have any advice for current students in your major?
Push yourself out of your comfort zone frequently and have faith in yourself and your capabilities. Take the time to truly learn the information in your classes instead of just
memorizing for the next exam. Enroll in different kinds of classes, experiment and see what topics are most interesting and important to you. Finally, chase what makes you feel most inspired and fulfilled!

Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience at UConn?
UConn is an institution that provides so many beautiful opportunities to those who seek them. I cherish both the connections that I made here and the all-encompassing education that I received through majoring in Environmental Studies.

Pictures from the 2019 Season at Canyonlands National Park

MEET ALUMNA JUDITH TAYLOR

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 I was drawn to the Environmental Studies degree because at the time I was just studying Geoscience and I wanted to supplement all the science classes I was taking with some more social science-based classes in the environmental field. EVST helped me learn how to apply technical knowledge to contemporary social and environmental issues, and made everything I was learning a bit more practicable. I am currently working as a Catastrophe Risk Analyst for Homesite Insurance In Boston. In this role I use tools like ArcGIS, SQL, and catastrophe models to analyze homeowners’ risk to various natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, etc. This has been a great role for me because it combined my background in geoscience (natural disasters, spatial data) with my background in environmental studies (environmental effects on people and business). I recommend the catastrophe risk/modeling industry to people who are interested, it’s relatively new but growing! Most insurance companies have similar teams and there are also companies who work directly on the models we use, so there are lots of opportunities out there. I am hoping to attend grad school in the Fall (still waiting on decisions, fingers crossed!) in the disaster management/community resilience field so I can do similar work but for the benefit of people, not a private company, and I think my current career as well as the environmental studies program at UConn were major factors in this decision.
I participated in the Climate Corps organized by Juliana Barrett and Bruce Hyde. I don’t have any pictures but this was a really awesome, uniquely hands-on experience that I can’t recommend enough to current students! I also did an alternative break at the Avery Point campus that focused on coastal environmental issues and involved a beach clean-up and dune restoration, which was another great out-of-the-classroom experience.

MEET ALUMNA STEPHANIE CARHUAYANO

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I went into studying Environmental Studies and Geography because I thought it would give me a leg up in multiple potential post-grad options such as law, policy, planning, research, and the scientific field. I was a bit worried, like some current or potential students, about whether or not the EVST degree would be enough to propel me into these career paths.
Though I initially got offers from legal assistant jobs and paralegal jobs that I thought would be a stepping stone to law school, the route I decided to go post grad was a full time job with a company Louis Berger as an environmental scientist and industrial hygienist. Though my job title is pretty broad, my specialization is monitoring the indoor air quality for private companies, school districts, and local, state and federal government agencies. For my IAQ investigations and exposure assessments, I monitor for dust (of all particle sizes,) CO, CO2, CH4, H2S, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), comfort parameters like temperature and relative humidity, and many other things. I also conduct active air sampling for mold, respirable and total dust, asbestos, lead, etc., depending on the client’s needs. I would say half of the time I am out with my instruments doing fieldwork, and the other half of the time I am in the NYC office doing research and writing up the reports with my findings and comparing them to the regulatory standards.
Other projects I work on include chemical management, soil sampling programs, and water sampling programs, which I find very interesting. The environmental health/industrial hygiene/occupational safety field is very broad since there are so many potential hazards and exposures out there,  and once you find what you want to do, you can focus on that. I find that I prefer working on multiple different projects at once because it makes me feel more versatile, instead of just focusing on one thing. It also means I’ll never run out of projects, which definitely guarantees job security.
I recommend looking into the field of industrial hygiene/environmental and occupational safety if you enjoy helping people in a concrete way, and if you don’t want a regular old 9-5 office job. I feel like I learn a lot every day because each project is different, as every client’s needs are different. I feel like my EVST degree helped because it exposed me to the kinds of experiences I really needed during undergrad, like research opportunities, internships, environmental law conferences, lots of technical writing, and a basic foundation for my love of the broader environmental field. I would definitely recommend this major to anyone that is willing to put their all into something they are passionate about.

MEET ALUMNUS COLIN NG CLASS 0F 2016

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What was your major?

I graduated from CAHNR in 2016 with a double major in Resource Economics and Environmental Studies.

What is your current job title?

As of right now, I am currently going through the training process to join the Connecticut Army National Guard as a medic. I am completing Basic Training in Fort Benning, GA and Advanced Individualized Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Serving in the National Guard is a part-time commitment that occurs one weekend a month and a two-week period over the summer so once I am finished with training, I will be searching for high school social studies teaching jobs in Connecticut. After finishing my bachelor’s degree in 2016, I decided to put my minors in History and Geography to good use and achieve my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a certification in History and Social Studies Education (Grades 7-12) through UConn’s Teacher Certificate Program for College Graduates.

Are you currently doing what you imagined you would be doing at this point in your life?

Yes, I always knew that I wanted to serve in the military and become a teacher. However, I did not expect to be able to do pursue those two professions at the same time. Discovering the ability to serve as a reservist in the Connecticut Army National Guard and maintaining a civilian job as a teacher was perfect.

What was your favorite class at UConn?

PHIL 3216, Environmental Ethics with Professor Daniel Silvermint. The class readings were extremely intriguing, asking and debating questions about sustainability and the environment that push the contemporary boundaries of what I grew up as a mainstream environmentalist. While it was reading intensive, the content of the articles and documents were thought provoking and tended to leave me with more questions than answers which I enjoyed.

What UConn course did you find most useful?

COMM 1100, Principles of Public Speaking. While the lecture is a in an extremely large, the discussion sections are what I found most useful. Coming to university, especially a large research university like UConn can be intimidating. The discussion portion of COMM 1100, provided the skills to speak in front of a group of strangers and more importantly, do it in a composed and organized manner. The skills that I gained in this class I used while giving presentations in classes, as Speaker of the Undergraduate Student Government and during my student teaching.

Do you have any advice for current students in your major?

I would recommend current students is ask and then follow up with professors about research opportunities. I remember that I always heard from professors about opportunities for undergraduate students to help out on studies, surveys or research but never participating in them. Post-graduation, there was definitely a positive correlation of people that secured jobs and those who participated in research opportunities.

Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience at UConn?

My time at UConn was made through the decision to go outside my comfort zone and try new things. Joining organizations like the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and the UConn Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team provided me with experiences and friendships that are invaluable. Time really does fly by and you do not want to spend time regretting what you did not do. What I found is that it is better to have tried and decided it was not for you rather than not having done it at all.

MEET ALUMNA ANNA CASALE CLASS OF 2016

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Alumna Anna Casale

What was your major?

I from graduated from CAHNR in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Associates in Animal Science.

What is your current job title? Please describe your current job.

I am an Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator. I manage the Environmental Health and Safety department for my company. I deal with all the injuries, hazards, ergonomics, safety guards, chemicals, confirm the company is compliant with legal regulations (state, federal, DEEP, EPA, OSHA regulations, etc.) coordinate recycling, ensure all waste is properly disposed for example used oil and coolant, and ensure all employees wear correct  personal protective equipment(PPE). I also set environmental goals for the company and have to design projects and plans on how to meet them. I certified the company in ISO 14001 and that is a yearly audit. I manage the safety committee as well and run those meetings. I have to do all staff and new employee trainings.

I also facilitate the 5S+Safety program, managing all the auditors and organize the monthly meetings and audits. Along with this program I developed a project for better efficiency in time and in floor space. I had the company buy a 3D printer that I am using to make shadow boards for all departments and gages. These shadow boards are a piece of plastic with cut outs for specific tools and or gages so everything has a home.

 

What was your favorite class at UConn?

Fall semester independent study with Mr. Bennett.

What UConn course did you find most useful?

EVST 1000: Introduction to Environmental Studies and NRE 4170 Climate-Human-Ecosystem Interactions

What is your fondest memory of UConn?

All of the clubs I was a part of, my on campus job (Academic Programs Office), and having horse barn hill to always go to.

Do you have any advice for current students in your major?

If you know kind of what you want to do, keep reaching for it.

Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience at UConn?

Meet as many people as you can at college and form those great relationships. I miss how easy it was to be able to meet someone new every day.

MEET ALUMNA KERRIN KINNEAR CLASS OF 2016

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What was your major?

I graduated from CLAS in May 2016 with a degree in Environmental Studies.

What is your current job title? Please describe your current job.

Client Operations Associate – My current job is a client-facing role at a renewable energy company. In my position, I evaluate clients’ building portfolios for renewables and energy efficiency opportunities that align with their economic or sustainability goals. Once identified, I drive the projects through the competitive procurement or “request for proposal” process, identifying the best partner for the job. Most of my projects fall within the solar energy, energy storage, and LED lighting spheres.

Are you currently doing what you imagined you would be doing at this point in your life?

At this point in my life, I am doing what I hoped I would be doing but did not imagine I would actually be doing at age 23. Working in a client-facing role for a renewable energy company has been very exciting and satisfying work, and it has been a long and rewarding road to get here.

What was your favorite class at UConn?

This is a very tough question! I took lots of interesting courses, but my favorites were probably Intro to Physical Geography, Environmental Law, and Managerial and Interpersonal Behavior

What UConn course did you find most useful?

My freshman English course was definitely the most useful course I took at UConn. Writing concisely and relaying messages effectively has been a huge advantage in my jobs after graduation.

What is your fondest memory of UConn?

Oozeball! There’s nothing more fun than trying desperately to keep a volleyball in the air with your good friends while getting absolutely covered in mud.

Do you have any advice for current students in your major?

Try everything. The environmental field is massive, and it’s really hard to know exactly what you want to do from the get go. By seeking out internships and volunteer opportunities in different sectors (e.g. water management research, conservation education, renewable energy, etc.), you start to pick up on what you like and what you dislike. It’s alright to dislike something you thought would be perfect for you and to move onto something new. Eventually, you’ll start honing in on your interests and the type of work environment that makes you happiest. It takes time, but you’ll get there!

Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience at UConn?

UConn has incredible professors, advisors, and resources for its students. I could not be where I am today without the support I received from the Environmental Department and the Office of Environmental Policy (thank you!). Striking up a conversation with your professor after class or chatting with someone at an academic event can not only yield good conversation, but can also serendipitously teach you more about yourself and guide you towards your interests. Try to use UConn’s human resources to your advantage.