What brought you to UNI?

My tour to UNI was my first college visit and the feeling I got visiting UNI was not matched by other school visits. I loved the layout of the campus and the proximity to my hometown. Additionally, the community seemed very welcoming and just the right size for me.

What did you enjoy most about attending UNI?

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at UNI because it felt so personal. I was able to work at the UNI GeoTREE Center for two years and this was a rewarding experience because I got to continue to develop skills used with my major and apply these skills to real world problems. Lisa Tabor and John DeGroote have been instrumental in my academic journey. They have been very supportive of my academic goals and development. They have gotten to know me personally and have made me feel prepared for my next step in life.

How did you become interested in your major? 

During my first visit at UNI, I was looking at different booths for majors. I stopped at the geography booth and was shown a heat map of UNI campus. I found it very intriguing and realized that geography was something I had never considered but I wanted to dive deeper into and learn more about.

What were some of your favorite classes?

I appreciated my climate change and social justice class because I got to learn how climate change is a social justice issue. I also really enjoyed my web mapping course because I got to learn how to use different web mapping software. In spring 2022, I have really enjoyed my rivers course. Rivers are fascinating because they are affected by so many variables of the world and the science behind them is so complex. I love the geography department because the courses are so unique and sometimes niche, yet, they are so applicable to how everyone and how we view the world. 

How have you been involved outside of the classroom?

I participated in an internship for the City of Marion in Spring 2021 working on tree inventory post derecho. I also was an intern at ITC Holdings Corp working in the line design department where I assisted in designing overhead electrical transmission lines. For 3 years, I have volunteered at a middle school church program at Nazareth Lutheran Church. Additionally, I have attended and been a leader in a college ministry that takes place at Orchard Hill Church.

Post-graduation plans?

Distribution Designer 1 at Ulteig Engineers Inc out of Des Moines, IA

How did UNI prepare you for your post-graduation plans?

I became very proficient at technical skills, such as geographic editing, and these skills prepared me for my future career. Additionally, UNI provided me with internship and employment opportunities that allowed me to grow in my field of study. Through course work, I was provided with multiple ways to examine problems through a geographic lens. Each course I took was unique and allowed me to take away different knowledge and really grow as a geographer.

What advice would you give to high school seniors (and/or transfer students)?

Be purposeful in your learning. There is so much about our world to learn and really having an open mind to new information and new ways of thinking are so helpful in learning. I found that I learned the most when I got purposeful about my learning and really woke up each day saying "I'm ready to learn today." In regards to my major, so much of what we do is related to location and I would advise anyone to consider my major because it is applicable in business, politics, sustainability, and so much more.

Anything else you’d like to add?

All the UNI geography faculty are outstanding. They made my experience at UNI very valuable and provided me with many tools to be successful after my time at UNI. A big part of why I enjoyed my time at UNI so much was because of the faculty.