Major: sustainable community development with physical planning and development emphasis, and natural resources with ecological restoration emphasis
Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Future Plans: sustainable design
Q. What are you up to post-graduation?
A. Short-term, this summer and at least into the fall I will be working for the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation in the ARELab. In the lab, I help run a few different tests on water samples that the Burke Center field crew brings in from water bodies in the area, and water samples from other clients. In the ARELab we also go out daily to test beach water and help inform the City of Ashland of any beach advisories or closings. Longer term I am also interested in pursuing semester-long programs focused on sustainable design as well as Geographic Information Systems, and eventually, work in the realm of sustainable design in a way that incorporates both of my degrees.
Q. Any advice for incoming first years?
A. Summers are a great chance to gain experience in work you’re interested in. Even if you’re not yet sure what you want to pursue after college or even major in, getting a summer position revolving around some aspect of your interest is a great idea and will help in applying for other positions in the future. My first summer I didn’t think I’d be qualified for anything in my field of interest, and now realize I was wrong; there are great resources on campus that can help in finding unique opportunities for students of any year. For example, there are the centers on campus, professors doing research, the Northland Jobs Board, and Stacy Craig who is knowledgeable on numerous internship and work opportunities.
Q. Most influential courses?
A. Brian Tochterman introduced me to sustainable community development and in many of his classes, I was able to pursue projects centered around community and design. Scott Grinnell and his Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design class solidified my interest in sustainable design. John Van Hoesen at Green Mountain College, where I did an EcoLeague semester, piqued my interest in GIS. Most recently, Sarah Johnson reignited my joy in being out in the field and desire to learn about biota in her Wetlands and Vegetative Communities of Northern Wisconsin courses.
Q. How did you decide to attend Northland?
A. At my secondary school (Great River), all 11th graders go on a trip in the fall visiting a few different colleges, and Northland was one of them. Many at my school considered Northland to be the college version of Great River: small with an emphasis on the environment and hands-on experiences for students. These are some of the main reasons I decided to attend Northland after finding it.