Career Goals

Photo: Looking south down White Bird Canyon from Hwy 95 in Central Idaho. Historical note – this was the site of Nez Perce defeat of the U.S. Army in the initial battle of the Nez Perce War. (link) Photo credit: Ryan Niemeyer

After college I taught 7th – 9th grade science for a year at Paschal Sherman Indian School, a combined primary and secondary school operated by the Colville Tribe in Omak, Washington. Although I enjoyed secondary education, I knew I wanted to A) work with college students and B) conduct management relevant research.  So I decided to go to graduate school in Natural Resources. In my first year (2009) in my Masters at the University of Idaho, I developed a metaphor for my career goals – a “career stool” (picture below).  I was not sure what line of work I would end up in, but whichever it was I wanted to be able to A) teach the next generation of environmental scientists and land managers, B) conduct research, and C) participate in outreach to managers.  So my “career stool” had a “teaching leg”, a “research leg” and an “outreach leg.” When I described it, I emphasized that the stool legs may not always be the same length – and they likely wouldn’t (i.e. I wouldn’t contribute equal time to each of the three areas).  But for whatever job my career path led to, I wanted that job to include these three components.

Since 2009 I’ve earned a M.S. in Natural Resources, a Ph.D. in Water Resources, completing a postdoc at University of Washington.  I’ve also taught several classes including graduate and undergraduate students, at two separate universities. The “career stool” metaphor still describes my career aspirations, but it has become more developed. After my postdoc, I hope to teach at a university where I can prepare the next generation through teaching and advising, while also conducting research and outreach. Where the “career stool” metaphor fails is that it does not communicate the integrated nature by which I have approached teaching, research, and outreach. Instead of viewing them as separate endeavors, I see them as both integrated and essential to one another. The Venn diagram below displays the integrated nature I strive for in my career. Good teaching will bring students into cutting-edge research. Good research will be communicated to stakeholders in an effective outreach strategy.