What were you doing before you applied to the Conway School?
I was traveling and working seasonal field ecology research positions with the Forest Service and National Park Service. Ranging from stream spawning habitat surveys in the Pacific Northwest, sea turtle restoration on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and rare botanical surveying in the Sierra Nevada.
What brought you to Conway?
I wanted to get my master’s and was very attracted to the project-based program at Conway. I did not want to do another program which I felt only prepared me on how to study and get good grades on tests, like my traditional bachelors was.
How did you first learn about Conway?
Through a web search of landscape architecture degrees across the world I just happened to stumble across Conway and read the school’s description. I was originally intending on moving to Germany for my master’s, but Conway seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up. I was not wrong.
Imagine we just met, and recognized we had common interests. How would you describe Conway to me?
Conway is a beautiful anomaly of a school, breaking away from the more commonplace tradition of large class sizes, solely technology-focused courses, and studying for final exams. At Conway you will jump right into working on real-world projects with real clients and make real hand drawn maps. You will develop new skills and experience the inner workings of your projects and all of your classmates’ projects. It will push you, but you will come out with more practical life skills than just pure academic prowess.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in the field?
Just get out there. Do some freelance projects, find what interests you and there is a job that does it, and if you can’t find one yet, make the job yourself. If you are passionate about a sector of sustainable, equitable, ecological land use, there is a way to make a living doing it. You just have to be flexible and maybe move.
What are you doing right now, and what do you love about it?
I have a full-time position managing the stormwater program and providing environmental planning for a mid-sized town in Vermont. I like the variability of my position and its benefits, as well as the upper-level project management role. I had a strong interest in stormwater management before going to Conway and it has since become my expertise.
What is your favorite tool? E.g., a type of gardening tool, digital tool, etc.
Hori Hori, no contest.
How do you think ecological design and planning can help make positive change?
It depends, but I would say it can probably make a positive change in just about every facet of our lives.
Which aspects of your Conway education do you use in your current work? Which aspects do you use to address urgent challenges related to climate change, environmental justice, etc.?
Project management and public speaking/presenting are skills that I grew at Conway, and my analysis to try and consider as many factors as possible for land use planning and design of new stormwater systems or development proposals.
What blogs or podcasts do you recommend? Particular posts or episodes?
Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series