• MEM Environment Concentration: Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments (TFE)
  • MEM Management Concentration:鈥疎nvironmental Analytics and Modeling (EAM)
  • Graduation Date: May 2028
     

What factors were most important in your decision to choose the Nicholas School for your graduate studies? And, how will your time at the Nicholas School help you reach your career aspirations?

Duke is a top academic institution, and the Nicholas School of the Environment is highly regarded. Understanding the caliber of the program, it is such an honor for me to be selected as a Nicholas Scholar.  

The financial support that comes with this recognition is also really critical for me. I have a passion for public service and plan to work in government upon graduating. While I am really excited about that career path, I know that choice will limit my lifetime earnings as opposed to private sector endeavors and will likely make it more challenging to pay off student loans. Truly, this level of financial support is life-changing, allowing me to follow my passions upon graduation.

As I was considering returning to school after working for more than a decade, the more I learned about the Nicholas School, the more confident that I felt that the program was the right fit for me. The ability to have two concentrations, one focused on the environmental sciences and the other focused on management skills, really made the program stand out. Additionally, the interdisciplinary nature of the MEM program meant that my background in social work would have value here; I could build upon my past experiences as I learn and grow through this program. It was also important to me that the Nicholas School focuses on the development of community and support of one another is a core tenant. Not only would I be learning from faculty and staff but also from my fellow students.  

In this environment and with the classes and other experiences I鈥檒l have access to through this program, I am confident that I鈥檒l have the skills that I need to reach my career goals. I want to work on conservation issues facing our public lands. These issues are complex and many, but I know that with the tools and relationships that I develop here, I鈥檒l be equipped to make a difference.