Class of 2001

Jessie Carr

Why I chose to be an Environmental Studies Major:  Well, these are pretty apocalyptic times.  As I went about taking classes across a seemingly random scattering of departments, all dealing in various ways with globalization, imperialism, cultural deterioration, racism/sexism and all other types of isms, they all left me a bit unsatisfied (not to mention depressed and angry) because they seemed to be missing something essential:  that the core root of all of these dastardly inequalities and injustices was humans’ loss of understanding of the earth, their biological origins in it, and their inherent connections to the land and to each other.  We continue to separate ourselves from the earth and our communities, all the while denying that our fates are shared and interdependent.  What a shame that Darwin highlighted competition, rather than mutualism, as the key mechanism by which natural selection proceeds.  Anyway, I came to find my home in environmentally slanted classes because they implicitly recognized that human and ecosystem degradation were the same.  I continued to take classes across a range of disciplines, each one speaking to the other and coming around full circle (who ever though that ecology and history had so much to say to each other).  There was no other major (not to mention the group of people and professors) that so inspired me, and what's more, was able to fill up and extend that desire, through the depth and breadth of material and experiences available.

What I plan to do with my Environmental Studies Major:  The field is so diverse and inclusive (and immediate) that I feel as though my directions are virtually unlimited.  In the nearest future, I hope to work with the myriad of prairie restoration projects going on in Minnesota.  It is an area of research that is so new and open, with such a wealth of implications for ecological theory as well as conservation planning.  I would like to attend graduate school in Conservation Biology to prepare to further field work.  But then again, I could see myself getting fully immersed in trade policy work around justice and equity issues.  In my spare time, I see myself as involved in public education and activist work to stop the insanity before it really gets too late.  I will work hard to demilitarize the US government, keep bioengineered products out of the food supply, defend a woman’s right to choose, and generally try to keep my government accountable.  Should be a piece of cake.  But on the bright side, the environmental movement is coming together in such creative and energetic ways, that it should be some fun.

Avery Cook

I grew up in Minnesota, have always loved being outdoors and had been involved with a variety of environmental education and protection groups before coming to Macalester.  I knew that Environmental Studies sounded like something I would be interested in when I got here, but I pursued a geology major instead, adding an ES major in my junior year so that I could gain a perspective on policy and advocacy in the environmental field, as I plan to pursue work in the realm of environmental science.  This summer I will be leading canoe and backpacking trips for a YMCA program in Ely and after some time a'wandering, find a graduate program in hydrogeology.

Elizabeth Cooke

I started participating in the Environmental Studies program after my first year course, Global Biodiversity and the Biology of Conservation.  Most of my courses in the department have been in Ecology as the study of ecosystems thrills me.  I studied abroad on an Ecology program in Madagascar where I examined the impacts of conservation efforts on local populations that require the land directly.  Next year I will be returning to Madagascar on a Fulbright to continue this type of study.  I am very interested at examining possible sustainable methods of conservation work that does not ignore human needs.  At some point after returning from Madagascar, I would like to attend graduate school to further define and support my interests.

Sara Jackson

I'm not actually an ES major, but have participated in the ES program through my self-designed major entitled "Women, Environment and Development."   The other departments that comprise my major are political science and women's studies.   I put together this major to look at the ways that women's issues, environmental issues, and political/development issues overlap, and can be addressed.  I was drawn to environmental studies because of its interdisciplinary approach, and because it's an area I've had some action-based exposure to, but not as much academic exposure.   I feel now that I have a broader and deeper understanding of many environmental issues, and in particular the ways that these issues impact women and are impacted by international politics (the latter two as a result of the other aspects of my major).

After college, I hope to continue on the ES path through youth work and perhaps continued academic work in international affairs.   I'm grateful for the base of knowledge I've garnered during my time at Macalester, and feel that it will contribute significantly to whatever I do in the future.

Jessica Minutaglio

Since I started out at Macalester, I have never found a definitive direction in which I am headed.  And, well I still haven’t.  When I had to make that crucial decision at the end of sophomore year, I turned to the Environmental Studies program, and the interdisciplinary approach it offers to understanding our global community.  I am interested in how humans relate to one another and the ecosystems in which they live, and how it becomes problematic to view ourselves as separate from the physical environments to which we contribute, alter, and benefit from.  Regardless of what avenue I take in the coming years, these consequential themes that I have spent time engaged in making sense of through many different perspectives as an ES major, will continue to inform the work that I do.  This summer I will be working at a local environmental education and community arts organization, Farm In the City.  I am thrilled to be working with children again, in an outdoors, interactive, and hands on setting.

Kelly Paulson

I have always had an interest in the natural sciences, particularly Biology, yet the pursuit of pure Biology didn't really interest me; I wanted something less specialized.   I feel that Environmental Studies, as a rigorous interdisciplinary academic program, has met my needs very well.  As a Biology core, I have concentrated in that field, yet I have a broader understanding of many other disciplines as well that will ultimately serve me very well.  I have enjoyed learning over such a broad spectrum, and I also feel that pursuing an interdisciplinary major has left me better prepared to integrate information from different fields in general and to think critically about the world.

After graduation, I will be working at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, then possibly working in France as an English teaching assistant.  A year after graduation I plan to attend graduate school in a Wildlife Biology  or Environmental Studies program and ultimately teach at the post-secondary level.

Mary Reuling

I have always been interested in people and their use of the world around them. I feel that the exploitation of our natural resources is out of control and that one way to help with this problem is to educate the public about our environment. When I first came to Macalester, I was interested in becoming an ES major in order to become more educated about and familar with conservation issues myself. I feel that this major has made me aware of many issues that I had misconcieved notions about previously. It has made it possible for me to pass these lessons on at the elementary school level. At this point I plan to go on and get my masters in education and soon work at using the elementary classrooms as a starting point for instilling more sustainable ideas about how to use our resources.

Mandy Stern

These past four years in the Environmental Studies Program at Macalester have been great.  I became an ES major originally because the environment is in big trouble and it needs help.  It's given me a lot over the years.  I've camped and hiked in it, breathed the air it provides, enjoyed the diversity of life in it's oceans and on land and so on.  So I thought I'd learn to give back what I can.  The interdisciplinary nature of the program attracted me too, and has proven extremely useful in my quest to conquer environmental destruction thus far.  With this degree, along with my core in economics, I plan on eventually going to graduate school for either environmental education or environmental economics and policy.  With environmental education I'd hope to develop a curriculum that could be widely implemented at public schools to further children's appreciation for the environment.  With economics and policy, I'd hope to affect policy decisions regarding polluters of various sorts to move toward sustainability.  I greatly appreciate the efforts of Al Romero and other faculty here at Macalester who have aided and inspired me along the way.

Jennifer Tahtinen

I chose to major in environmental studies because it offers an interdisciplinary approach to looking at the world around us, learning how to look critically at problems and help to solve them.  I have been able to take a range of interesting classes in very different fields that I think has given me a solid background and will benefit me in the future.  I have been able to concentrate on the biological and ecological aspects of the environment, while others spend more time studying the economics and policy, or the roles of gender in the environment.  Environmental studies allows students to combine their interests in a course of study that is meaningful and interesting!

In the future, I am interested in many different fields and haven't chosen what I will pursue quite yet.  I am interested in studying environmental law, and I am also interested in organic farming and botany.  I plan to work for a few years, get my "feet wet" in the real world, and then return to school.

Diwakar Thapa

I decided to be an ES major because in Nepal (where I am from) there is a very strong push for environmental protection. I developed strong affinities with nature growing up 'close to the land.'  Upon graduation, I will be doing Investment Banking, but I plan to get involved in an environmental INGO when I return home.

Katy Thompson

Originally coming to Macalester I wanted to be a biology major and eventually become a marine biologist.  Somewhere along the line I decided I really didn't like biology as much as I thought I did and changed my major to environmental studies and engineering.  I had always been interested in ecology and problems facing the environment.  I chose environmental studies because it gives you a solid background in many different areas regarding the environment and problems it is facing.  I then chose civil engineering because it is a major where I can actually go out into the real world and develop solutions to environmental problems, using the background in environmental studies I learned at Macalester.  Next year, I will be going to the University of Minnesota to finish up a degree in civil engineering with an environmental engineering focus.  After that I hope to work with an engineering or consulting firm on land reclamation or water pollution.

Scott Wiedemer

I decided to become an ES major during my first year at school. As an outdoor oriented person, I've always had an interest in environmental protection, mostly for recreational purposes.   Majoring in ES and Economics, I've been able to incorporate these two fields through classes like Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Economics.  However, upon graduating, I don't have a definite plan on how to incorporate these two fields in finding a job I will enjoy.  It seems more likely that I will head in either one direction or the other.  I'm looking forward to exploring my options during these next few years, and discovering I career I enjoy.