Environmental Studies majors are in demand in fields such as:
Shannon Welch ’22
On the afternoon of September 19th, the Environmental Science department’s Entering Student Seminar course, taught by Daniel Shustack — Professor of Environmental Science, met in CSI for pizza and a stimulating seminar titled “Life After College: Environmental Science” given by MCLA alumni, Shannon Welch ’22. Throughout the semester, various speakers visit the class to give seminars about life in Environmental Science to help prepare and guide them as they integrate their studies into their everyday lives. For Welch, she structured her presentation around what she thought would be most useful for the students, and as it turned out, Welch’s advice can span across many different fields of study.
Welch began with what she considered to be three of the most important questions when
it comes to employment after college:
Do you want to stay in this area of work?
How do you feel about field work?
What relationship do you want to have with your job?
“Figuring out what you love and don’t love in your field of work is so important to
narrowing down what you want to do,” said Welch. “Try things out, take advantage of
different opportunities and see what works for you.”
She also emphasized that there is no judgment on your answers to those questions and
the path that is right for you, “Yeah, field work [in Environmental Science] is fun,
but if you hate doing it in the rain then maybe don’t follow a path that leads you
to be outside 24/7, and that’s okay!” Welch also acknowledged that it can be scary
to “strike out on your own”and that not having a college community supporting you
can be hard in your first few months post-graduation. Her remedy for that is simple:
“I would say that the biggest thing you’ll have to do is learn to trust yourself and
your knowledge. And also learn the value of hobbies, you’re going to have a lot more
time on your hands!” she said. When it comes to steps students should be taking to
further prep themselves for life after college, Welch says, “Start networking! Not
only with people in town but with your advisor and professors, too! Share your excitement
about your future! Talk to them about your interests in the field, listen to them
talk about theirs! And also take advantage of internships, every semester is an opportunity
to do something new and cool!”
Bristol Sternfield, '21
After graduating MCLA I completed two internships with the Student Conservation Association
in Montana and Utah, before accepting a permanent position as a park ranger with the
National Park Service. I give educational programs, conduct tours, work with school
groups, assist with search and rescue, and staff visitor centers. I have become a
historic weapons supervisor, and conducted cannon demonstrations, provided night sky
astronomy programs for hundreds of visitors, and gotten to live and work in some of
the most beautiful places in the country. I have worked for both the NPS and the
United States Forest Service, and feel my degree in Environmental Studies and minor
in Political Science have prepared me to handle the often complex dynamics of doing
environmental work for the Federal Government. I couldn't love my job more, but it
was fairly difficult to break into a career with the Park Service, due to such a high
demand for jobs. I wouldn't trade my college experience at MCLA for anything, and
am very grateful for the courses, friends, and staff that have helped me in finding
my dream career.
Kaitlin Gevry ’19 
Interdisciplinary studies major Kaitlin Gevry ’19 of Dudley, Mass., has loved the
outdoors since she was a child. In addition to an aunt who taught her about flora
and fauna, her parents are scuba divers who fostered her love of swimming, and instilled
in Gevry a respect for marine life. Part of a travel study course that recently culminated
in a trip to South Florida and the Everglades, Gevry had the opportunity to study
some of the region’s wildlife, including Florida manatees. These animals are some
of the most threatened in this country’s waters, due to collisions with watercraft,
the destruction of their habitat, and competition for resources. “It was remarkable
to see the manatees less than a few feet away from us,” she said. While snorkeling
in the Florida Keys, several students – including Gevry – noticed a nurse shark, whose
population also is declining. “Sharks are essential to the ocean ecosystem by keeping
the marine food chain in balance. Someday, I hope to be able to dive with a great
white and a whale shark. I would be ecstatic to have a job collecting shark and or
marine life data, while working to promote their conservation efforts,” Gevry said. Originally,
Gevry wanted to major in education. Now she aims to work as a game warden or a park
ranger. “I took a course pertaining to the environment and human impacts,” she explained.
“From there, I became interested in environmental studies. An interdisciplinary career
working with natural resources and people would be the perfect fit.” Becoming a Trailblazer,
Gevry explained, has allowed her to assume leadership roles and participate in extracurricular
activities: she served as the vice president of ski club and as a student athlete
in cross country. “Being part of a college that offers various teams and organizations
has definitely made my undergraduate experience rewarding,” she said.
Michael Friedman '18
During my time at MCLA I completed two internships with local conservation-based nonprofits,
worked with Dr. Eric Doucette on plant systematics research, and worked as a field
and lab technician for an urban landscape ecology lab at The Ohio State University.
These experiences, along with my classes, were essential for my experience as an undergraduate
student. After graduating from the Environmental Studies program with a minor in Biology
from MCLA, I was accepted into a Masters of Biological Sciences program at Wright
State University in Dayton, Ohio. At Wright State, I work in a lab that is focused
on plant-insect interactions, specifically the interactions between emerald ash borer
and it’s host trees. For my thesis, I will be analyzing the physiological defense
mechanisms of a novel host, white fringetree, and comparing them to black ash, a known
host of emerald ash borer. The goal of this research is to elucidate information about
white fringetree defense, while also adding to the growing body of knowledge regarding
the responses of hardwood tree species to insect pests.
Taylorjae Taber '17
Immediately after graduation I moved to West Yellowstone, Montana to start my, at
the time, second summer as a seasonal Animal Keeper at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery
Center. I was hired on as a year-round keeper at the end of the summer. My job focuses
on the husbandry, stimulation, and care of the 7 Grizzly Bears, 6 Gray Wolves, an
array of raptor species, and an Uinta Ground Squirrel colony. Our message and main
goal at the Center is to give these non-releasable animals a second chance here in
a captive setting and to educate the public on the importance of bear safety, coexistence,
and how to avoid animal-human conflicts that landed our collection of animals in captivity
to begin with. On exhibit we strive to use natural enrichment and habitat design that
stimulates natural behaviors and simulates the animals natural environments. We are
an absolutely no contact facility in order to keep the animals as wild as possible
with as little human interaction as possible. As a keeper I am privileged to be able
to get within inches of these animals through mesh to care and clean. My favorite
part of my job is to be able to watch the animals interact and display natural behaviors
in response to an enrichment item I created or gave them. I love this job and the
area! I live a mile from the west gate of Yellowstone National Park!
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Amber Luke '15
I started working with Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District in New
York State in January 2016. I find that my degree has helped me tremendously with
a variety of tasks at my job, from giving advice on the soil types in the area to
identifying plants for a producer. Knowing the basics in soil structure and water
quality have helped me to identify resource concerns in the field. All the hands-on
experience from the ENVI labs has made me more comfortable going in the field alone
in order to take soil samples, assess resource concerns, and assess the problem. I
use GIS software every day, and I have found that I am very thankful for the GIS course
that I took at MCLA. My day to day activities include making maps on GIS, surveying,
making designs, soil sampling, hydro-seeding/mulching, renting out the no-till drill
and technical assistance for projects. Some of the projects that I work on include,
but are not limited to, manure storage, access roads, fencing, water systems, stream
crossings, culvert replacements and covered barnyards. At my job, we work hand-in-hand
with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA)
to support our farmers and protect the natural resources of the county.
Jason Brown '14
I write this from the Peace Corps in Senegal, where I have been for nearly four months.
I am building social capital in my community, getting to know my family more and more
and continuing to work on my language. The official language here is French but the
most widely spoken is Wolof followed by Pulaar. I am learning the Fulakunda dialect
of Pulaar. The village is large with about up to 1000 people seasonally at its peak
(which is right now peanut harvesting). The harvest this year was very poor due to
lack of rainfall.
Web Article: Alumnus Applies Agroforestry Technologies in West Africa
Nate Joyner '13
I have found that my degrees in Environmental Studies/Science were very helpful to
my job in land use planning. Topics such as Env. Law, and Government and Env. Policy
helped provide an understanding of the foundations and history of the land use regulations
I must now understand and navigate, while topics like Geology, Ecology, and River
Systems etc., have given me a fundamental understanding of the real world factors
which necessitate the regulations and the science upon on which the policies are built.
In general I would say the philosophy of the department also engenders a methodical,
comprehensive, "ecosystem" approach to problem solving which I think is a beneficial
in any field. After Nate graduated in December 2013 much of his work involves interactions
with individuals or businesses applying for permitting under local and state land
use regulations, such as the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA), MESA, MEPA, Chapter 21E,
and local zoning and licensing regulations. As Floodplain Coordinator for the City
he interacts with the state and national floodplain insurance programs operated by
MEMA and FEMA, making sure the City maintains the standards of those programs and
assisting residents who are attempting to determine if they are in a floodplain or
navigate the floodplain map amendment process.
Ariana Chiapella
'12
After graduating in 2012, Ariana directed the Leaders-In-Training program for the
Massachusetts Audubon Nature Center. Working with teens aged 14-16 from Boston, Ariana
created lesson plans, activities, and field trips oriented around environmental education.
She is currently working in California for the Watershed Stewards Project doing water
quality monitoring, habitat assessment, invasive species removal, native plantings,
trout and salmon population monitoring, data analysis, report writing, volunteer outreach
and recruitment, and environmental education in elementary schools. In her free time,
Ariana loves to get out climbing.
Amanda L'Etoile 
Amanda started as an intern with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) in
January 2010. In addition to building a trail on the Hoosac Range, Amanda launched
a service-learning program with Drury High School in North Adams, and in the spring
she started a program of afterschool and summer field trips in cooperation with the
city's public schools. Amanda started working full-time for the BNRC in October, 2011.
There, she coordinates community engagement and outdoor experience programs, and provides
essential help to their land and trail stewardship work.
Christine Amor '11
Christine graduated from MCLA's Environmental Studies Program in spring 2011. She
is currently serving as an AmeriCorps member in Juneau, AK, where she is an assistant
naturalist at Discovery Southeast, a non-profit, hands-on education center. At DSE,
Christine leads early dismissal day hikes, where children get to explore and learn
about the nature in their own backyards. Throughout the year children also have the
opportunity to go out with the Discovery Southeast naturalists into trails they do
not get to experience everyday. There is time for climbing peaks, visiting nearby
glaciers and seeing some great wildlife along the way! Nature Studies are going on
throughout the year in Juneau's elementary schools, where Christine educates children
about vital aspects of plant life, local geology, southeast's wildlife, natural history,
and nearby edibles. Nature study incorporates outdoor exploration throughout the seasons,
with a strong emphasis on independence and creativity in Southeast Alaska's intertidal
and forested environments. Check out Discovery Southeast's website www.discoverysoutheast.org
Betsey Willis
I teach 6th grade science at the South Middle School in Braintree, MA. I graduated
with my Master's of Education. I completed an Educating for Sustainability program
as part of the Experienced Educators program at Antioch University New England in
Keene, NH. I am on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Environmental Education
Society and the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers.
MCLA gave me a lot of hands-on experience and training. The small class sizes allow individualized instruction from professors and meaningful experiences outdoors and in the lab. Professors model how to use the outdoors with students and how to manage a lab. This has been helpful in my teaching. I work hard to provide hands-on, experiential learning for my students.
Dan Harris
I currently work as a field technician for Berkshire Environmental Consultants, Inc.,
in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where I conduct ambient air sampling, stormwater monitoring,
and emissions monitoring. Our job is to ensure federal and state regulatory compliance
for our municipal and industrial clients.
MCLA's Environmental Studies program gave me a comprehensive introduction to the evolution and goals of the regulatory framework that defines my everyday work. Courses like Environmental Policy and Environmental Law helped to illuminate some of the complexities of major environmental legislation and court decisions, while lab courses such as Methods in Research provided hands-on opportunities for learning proper field techniques.
Mike Gromacki
I had the opportunity to be a part of a Saw-whet owl banding project at Hopkins Memorial
Forest. We captured, banded, and released Saw-whet owls for migratory research. This
was one of the best projects I have ever participated in as it will help prepare me
for graduate school. My hope is that future Environmental Studies undergraduates will
follow in my footsteps, adopting this operation as their own, as it is a wonderful
educational experience available to MCLA students.
Ben Todd
As a participant in a full farm season apprenticeship at Caretaker Farm in Williamstown,
MA, I assist in the operation of a CSA that serves 250 families with shares of organic
vegetables and fruit as well as offering eggs and meat raised on the farm. My duties
are widely varied and range from raising over 50 vegetable crops from seeds to harvest,
tending chickens, goats, and pigs, understanding dynamics of soil health and compost,
and understanding how all of these fit into a solid business model. Everything I do
here is in the spirit of learning by doing. I live on the farm with Don (the farmer)
and his family and three other apprentices and this is just as much an experience
in farming as a lesson in community living.
Every task I have undertaken here is building upon a body of knowledge gained through my life experience thus far. My appreciation for the beauty of a working, self-feeding, and truly sustainable system of the small farm is underscored by the broad range of topics I studied in the Environmental Studies program at MCLA. Farming is a dynamic profession demanding physical stamina as well as creativity, vision, and business savvy intelligence. While farming, food, and business were not things I studied directly at MCLA, the varied nature of the program allowed me to think critically about where my energies could be applied, for the benefit of the world and for my personal satisfaction. My appreciation for the beauty and importance of small farms like Caretaker was drawn out through my experience at MCLA. My time in college opened up my view of the world rather than driving my focus down a pointed path, and that I believe is what makes the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts unique.
Becca Knights
Currently I am employed at BPVS (Berkshire Photovoltaic Services) in Adams, MA as
the project manager. I started working at BPVS three years ago with an internship
while enrolled at MCLA in the Environmental Studies Program. The internship consisted
of a kWh analysis project. My main task was to estimate how many kWh's a nominal 1
kW system will produce, based on past BPVS customer kWh readings. MCLA prepared me
for this internship greatly by allowing me to participate in many labs where I learned
how to critically analyze large amounts of data, which at first glance can be very
overwhelming.
I enjoyed how enthusiastic the professors were about the Environmental Program. The department was filled with professors who not only believed in what they teach, but live it every day. My professors helped closed the gap between college life and the professional world by keeping us updated with volunteer, internship and job opportunities. I genuinely enjoyed my time at MCLA and appreciate everything I learned while I was there.
