When I chose to attend UCA and major in Environmental Science, I was pursuing my interests with no real long-term plan in mind. The Environmental Science Program at UCA changed that by offering coursework relevant to my interests and an ever-changing field. The program goes above and beyond to equip students of diverse backgrounds for careers in a diverse field. Every student's journey is a little different, but each one is supported by faculty and advisors. I've been with the same conservation non-profit since 2013 and love coming back to UCA to share about my education and career journey with prospective and current students. 

I chose to pursue an Environmental Science degree at UCA because it offered a one-of-a-kind program in Arkansas. What truly set it apart was the opportunity to customize my degree according to my career goals. This flexibility was very progressive compared to the other programs I had considered.  My Environmental Science degree equipped me with the knowledge and the connections needed to confidently step into a consulting role at ECCI, a highly regarded consulting firm. I began as an intern and, over several years of professional growth, I earned a promotion to the position of President at ECCI. This achievement can be attributed, in large part, to the Environmental Science program at UCA. To this day, I continue to enjoy engaging with professors and students in the program.

I declared for the Environmental Science degree program back in the very early days when the program was first established at UCA. I chose Environmental Science (Biology Track) because I was interested in the natural sciences, ecology, and conservation and, honestly, because I thought I had discovered a loop-hole to avoid taking Organic Chem II, which backfired because I ended up only a few credit-hours short of a minor in chemistry! Back then, I had little idea of where and how far an Environmental Science degree might take me. But the diverse course work, immersive lab and field experiences, and faculty mentoring that I received throughout my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science were instrumental in defining my career path and setting me on a course through grad school (Masters and PhD) and eventually to a career as an Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. I am grateful for my undergraduate education and continually proud of the strength of the UCA Environmental Science program today.  

Driven by my youthful experiences hiking and fishing in the mountains and streams of the Ozarks, I enrolled in UCA's Environmental Science program with a focus on biology. The program equipped me with a broad ecological education, setting the stage for further studies in the Adams Fish Ecology Lab and a subsequent career with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Environmental Science program laid a solid foundation that provided me with a broad perspective compared to many of my peers in the Fisheries Division. This perspective has been invaluable in a field that often exhibits a narrow focus. Over the past eighteen years, I've remained with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and currently hold the position of Fisheries District Coordinator. Staying in Central Arkansas allows me the privilege of maintaining connections with former professors and friends who played pivotal roles in my development.