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What about the degree program made it unique? 
The professors in the NAMS department really wanted every student to succeed and learn, not just get a passing grade. They didn’t just see students as another number, but as people who were willing to learn and be leaders and professionals for our future. Specifically, Dr. Adam Aguiar had the most impact on my time at ������Ƶ Univeristy. He was my professor for both Saltwater Fishing and Ecology, and Cells and Molecules. 

How did ������Ƶ prepare you for the next chapter in your life? (Example: research, symposiums, etc). Can you talk about your research experience?
I made the most of my experience at ������Ƶ and decided to minor in Chemistry. This led me to research opportunities within the department. Dr. Sarah Gray was willing to take me on as a student for her research in Detecting MBT in Beer. The skills I learned in chemistry and biology labs helped prepare me to assist in this research with Dr. Gray. Between lab courses and research, I gained the knowledge and tools I use in everyday work today. 

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)
Since graduating from ������Ƶ Univeristy, I have a job in both the medical field and the fishing industry. I currently work for Univeristy of North Carolina’s Children’s Hospital in the Pediatric Pharmacy. We produce sterile compounds in the IV room for sick children. This involves working in a clean room under a sterile hood. We must have accurate measurements down to the tenths decimal place, so understanding how to read syringes and graduated cylinders is crucial in my line of work. Additionally, we create dilutions which involve formulating the correct concentration for each drug. All of these day to day duties were made simpler by the education I received from ������Ƶ. I also write for The Fisherman Magazine as a field editor. Dr. Aguair is the main reason I have this job. I made connections from being in his Saltwater Fishing and Ecology course. 

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)
I am currently studying at UNCW to earn my Master's in Healthcare Administration. 

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
Majoring in any science opens up a world of opportunities. You don’t just have to be a doctor to succeed. Having the knowledge of a science background will open so many doors. I strongly suggest researching all the careers you can have with a Biology degree, whether you want to work in a lab, office, or hospital, there are many avenues this degree can take you. 

Anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?
My high school senior quote, as well as the first line of my college essay, was “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,”. I stand by that quote more now than I ever have before. Looking back at the challenges I faced from being hospitalized as a child, I am grateful for the opportunities I was given and the hard work I put in to make it all pay off in the end. 

How did ������Ƶ prepare you for the next chapter in your life? (Example: research, symposiums, etc.). Can you talk about your research experience?
������Ƶ thoroughly prepared me for the next chapter in my life. At ������Ƶ, I had the pleasure of being involved in research with three faculty members and developed my own research project senior year. Being so involved with research as an undergraduate really aided me in becoming more confident in myself as a person and as a scientist. Especially since I also had the opportunity to present at several conferences and at the NAMS symposium while a student. Also, the geology program really prepared me to be comfortable in the field, which is important for the work I do as a geologist. During my master’s degree, I spent many weeks out in the field, either mapping or on trips to see new outcrops, and the exposure I had to this during my time at ������Ƶ made it so that I was extremely comfortable and confident during these trips. 

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)
Since graduating from ������Ƶ in 2019, I have been employed in academia. I was a graduate student at Northern Arizona University from 2019-2021, an adjunct instructor of environmental science at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey, from winter- fall 2022, and am now a graduate student at the University of Michigan.

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)
After graduating with my B.S. in geology from ������Ƶ in 2019, I went on to pursue my master’s of science in geology at Northern Arizona University studying melt inclusions from a volcano near Naples, Italy. I graduated with my master’s in summer of 2021, and I am currently a Ph.D. student in Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Michigan, studying melt and fluid inclusions from iron deposits in Chile. The educational background I received at ������Ƶ really helped me excel in both classes and research as a graduate student. But more critically, I was introduced to the topic of melt and fluid inclusions by Rocky, and fell in love with the topic. Without his introduction, I may have never found a topic in geology that suits my interests as well, and pushed me to continue school and continue doing research.

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
For any students considering majoring in geology, my best advice is to get involved in research as soon as possible, and explore your options. The faculty in the geology program have diverse interests, and you should talk to each one and see what area of research brings you the most joy.

Anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?
My connection with NAMS and the geology program in particular did not end after graduation, and the connections I formed with the faculty have been key to my success. Rocky and Jeff have remained in contact and have been extremely helpful and interested in my work since leaving ������Ƶ, and I know they will continue to be a valuable resource as I continue on in academia. 

How did ������Ƶ prepare you for the next chapter in your life? (Example: research, symposiums, etc). Can you talk about your research experience?
Course material and research gave me the skills and knowledge I needed to excel and standout in my field. I learned how to properly research topics and how to implement new information to the projects I work on in my industry.

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)
I work as a production geologist at various mine sites, currently at the nations only operating primary cobalt mine. Here I use geologic mapping, sampling, computer modeling, and multiple databases in order to target, find and route economic ore materials. I plan drilling programs to expand and better define the deposit. I work closely with mine crews, steer development, and manage stockpiles in order to effectively recover ore materials.

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)
I cannot talk about myself, but many companies I have worked for offer opportunities for industry classes, experiences, work related research and presentation on this research. Some companies that I have worked for offer paid graduate schooling for those that perform strongly.

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
In mining, there is a lot of opportunity to move around. I have seen many geologists move into various facets of engineering, operations, work in permitting, business/ accounting, etc. Mining can be remote and work is often on rotating shifts. This varies site to site.

Anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?
I'd recommend taking additional technical classes. Statistics and some kind of CAD and or geospatial software should be requirements. I have used skills from these classes in every geology job I have had, including those outside of mining. Additional physics and chemistry will likely prove beneficial depending on career path/ interests.

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)
I am in the workforce. My path after ������Ƶ went: laboratory analyst and aquifer testing laborer; environmental consultant, and geophysicist. In my current position, I use equipment to locate shallow subsurface objects, identify sinkholes, map bedrock topography, determine bedrock well lithology and other geophysical investigations. 

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)
I pursued the professional geologist certification in Pennsylvania. The knowledge base I gained from my time at ������Ƶ was absolutely crucial in my passing the two exams to gain my certification. 

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
Reach out to alumni that are doing different types of work/research. If possible, spend a day on the job with them to see what it’s really like. In my experience, the workforce was an abrupt change from college that I wish I had been exposed to prior to graduation. 

Anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?
I cherish my ������Ƶ geology experience. It helped me grow into the professional I am today by providing me with the necessary knowledge in my field of work, and it was a great social experience, as well completing field and lab projects with other students. I can not praise the geology program enough. 

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)
After graduating from ������Ƶ, I immediately went on to a fully funded graduate school program at Lehigh University, where I earned an M.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences. The findings from my research were published in 2018 in GeoSphere. After graduating, I joined the workforce as an environmental geologist for a private environmental consulting firm in New Jersey, where I assisted in researching, identifying, and remediating environmentally compromised sites in the Tri-State area. I was simultaneously hired by Monmouth University to teach an introductory geology course part-time at night. After straddling this dual role in private industry and academia for five years, I accepted my current position with the Depart of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration as a Mine Safety and Health Training Specialist. In this role, I provide educational and training services to mine and quarry operators throughout the Northeastern United States and take part in accident investigations.

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)
I went to Lehigh University (‘17) and earned an M.S. degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences. My research and extra-curricular activities at ������Ƶ made my resume stand out as an exceptional student. 

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
A large portion of geology will be spent studying rocks and landforms to understand the past. But - as you’ll quickly learn - the present is the key to the past. Take advantage of every learning opportunity presented to you during your studies and capitalize on the wealth of knowledge your professors have to offer. Just because you don’t immediately see the benefit of an opportunity does not mean it’s a valueless moment. 

Anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?  
I often look back on my life to see if there were key moments or choices that had a lasting impact on me. Choosing to major in geology at ������Ƶ has single-handedly been the best choice I have ever made in my entire life. I cannot imagine where I would be if I hadn’t taken the chance to switch majors.

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)
Since graduating from ������Ƶ, I have continued my education as an M.S. student at Texas Tech University. I am doing research on magnetite pipes in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa. I was also able to do fieldwork in South Africa during the summer of 2021.

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)  
I am pursuing a graduate degree in Geosciences with a focus in igneous petrology at Texas Tech University.

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
I would tell them that it is one of the most useful degrees that one could get at ������Ƶ. The job prospects are vast, and the research/field experiences will be some of the best times of your life.

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?
Keep doing it until your dream realizes. As your academic life goes on, you would see more and more people around you leave Physics, like quitting  their Ph.D., changing majors to C.S., finding a quant job on Wall Street or a coding job in Silicon Valley. They have their choices best for them. But for me, and maybe for you who are strongly enthusiastic in Physics and an academic career as a life goal, perseverance is important. Don't feel bad if you feel many classmates are smarter than you. I was never the smartest among my friends, but I just kept doing physics. When I finally did it and looked around, I was one of the very few people still on the academic road now.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?
Whether you liked theories or experiments more in undergraduate courses and research, do not limit your future research only to what you were familiar with in a college. With a bachelor's degree in physics, you may want to explore many more interdisciplinary areas, such as soft matter (a subcategory of condensed matter), biophysics, materials science, and chemical and biochemical engineering.

How did ������Ƶ prepare you for the next chapter in your life? (Example: research, symposiums, etc.). Can you talk about your research experience?

Doing research as an undergrad and going to conferences like GSA opened a lot of doors for me.

Can you talk about your career path since graduating from ������Ƶ?  (If you are in the workforce, can you describe your overall duties/responsibilities in your current position?)

After graduation, I worked for two years in a soils consultant company in Virginia as a Geologist and GIS analyst. I currently work in a geotechnical firm as a field geologist. Soon I will start as a full-time graduate student doing research in near surface geophysics at Rutgers University.

Can you talk about your educational path since graduating from ������Ƶ? (If you went on to graduate studies, where did you go? What degree are you pursuing? Did any research, symposiums, extra-curricular activities help with your studies/preparing for graduate/professional school?)  

Starting graduate school for M.S. in geophysics during the spring of 2023.

What advice would you give to students who are considering majoring in your field?  

Do their research on what field of geology they would like to work in the future. The field of geology is very broad and sometimes competitive for obtaining good jobs. Most of the time, it requires to pursuing a master's degree.

Anything else you would like to share with us (personal or professional)?

When I was at ������Ƶ, I would have liked more tools provided by NAMS. For example, easy access to rooms to study with classmates in classrooms.