Tell us a little about your background. How did you end up at UNI?
When I was a senior in high school, I originally came to UNI for the education program, as I wanted to be a high school math teacher. My junior year in college I went on an outdoor trip backpacking in Wyoming. That trip was so impactful that I changed my major to double major in mathematics and environmental science. I graduated from my undergraduate in 2022 after volunteering with the outdoor program for two years before that. In the winter of 2023, I had Dr. Kathy Scholl and Dr. Andy Martin reach out to me about coming back for the graduate program in community, Health, and Recreation and to be a graduate assistant for the new Outdoor Adventures Program. The impact that the program had for me in my undergraduate was huge, and I wanted to continue the impact for generations to come at UNI, so I came back for the Outdoor Adventures Program. 

Why did you choose to pursue this degree at UNI?
I chose to pursue a degree in community health and recreation to deepen my understanding behind why people spend their time in leisure and the positive impacts that leisure and recreation have on people's lives. My hope was that learning more about the psychology behind recreation and leisure would allow me to provide more impactful experiences to those who choose to recreate outside. 

How did you choose your area of focus for your thesis? Why was this important to you?
When deciding on my thesis topic, I knew I wanted to bring together my knowledge of environmental science and my love of the outdoors. As visibility worsens in national parks and particulate matter has health effects on human beings, I wanted to see if people are adjusting their national park plans.

Describe your graduate assistantship and what you've gained from that experience.
I am a graduate assistant for the RTNL (recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership) Outdoor Adventures program. Through my position I have gained a lot of skills and experiences that will directly impact my post-graduate career. In my position I gained skills both in and out of the office. The more administrative skills I have gained are budgeting, cash flow and collaboration with different departments on university campuses. In my position, I also teach 1-credit activity courses on rock climbing, backpacking and canoeing. Through this aspect of my job I have gained skills in public speaking, classroom management and activity building. Lastly, in my position I have the privilege to lead Outdoor Adventures for students at UNI.

What does completing your degree mean to you?
I'm moving forward. :)

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
My first semester I completely fell on my face when it came to my graduate assistant position. I was learning the program and all the tasks I needed to complete for our semester to be a success. I had to learn how to juggle school work, my graduate assistantship and keep some semblance of a life. I overcame this challenge through the patience, feedback and advice my supervisors gave me. I am very thankful to be a part of such a great team here at UNI. 

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
UNI was an opportunity for me to grow in my leadership skills while also keeping an important program (Outdoor Adventures) alive. I've developed the skills to become a leader in the outdoor education field. 

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
My favorite memory from UNI is when I led a group to the bottom of the Grand Canyon over fall break 2024. The ability to be part of the 1% of people who visit the Grand Canyon who are able to go to the bottom is so great! At one point during our trip it started raining and we fit eight people into a three-person tent to play "among us" Mafia. Our group of 11 that did this backpack still chat and get together often. 

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
Take the opportunity to try new things! This is the cheapest and lowest risk time to do something new! 

What's next? 
I am going to be the outdoor education program assistant at CSB+SJU (College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University) in Minnesota.