Undergraduate degree: University of North Carolina, Philosophy and Political Science, 2009

Age: 25

Dual degree: Ford School of Public Policy

Prior to SNRE: I spent two and a half years working as a paralegal in D.C. with the U.S. Department of Justice. In the year leading up to starting here, I worked as a Traveling Trainer for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, traveling the country talking about conservation, outdoor education, and environmental stewardship.

Why Environmental Policy & Planning?: Studying environmental policy gives me the tools to work for conservation within the complex and dynamic political, economic, and social institutions that determine what really happens. When combined with the interdisciplinary nature of SNRE and strong science classes, it gives me a capacity to speak both the language of ecology and the language of government agencies, political activity, and nonprofit management.

The best part of SNRE so far: The ability to work one-on-one with professors who have extensive experience in the field of environmental policy.

“SNREdiest” thing he’s done: Perhaps based on my beard alone, I was drafted to help with the SNRE Fall Campfire to both build the fire and run the cross-cut log sawing competition. In case you're wondering—yes, I did rock my Carhartt overalls.

After graduation: As a Wyss Scholar for the Conservation of the American West, I have dedicated myself to working in the government or nonprofit sector for issues affecting that region. I hope to work on land management policy either in the U.S. Forest Service or for a nonprofit that interacts with it to shape policy.