Why did you choose SUNY Cobleskill?
I chose SUNY Cobleskill because the Wildlife Management program was the best out of all of the wildlife programs I had looked at. I also met with Dr. Michael Losito, and he impressed both my mother and myself very much. He was enthusiastic about the program and everything that it could offer me. He even went through all of the places and careers that the degree could take me. He, as well as the rest of the Fisheries and Wildlife staff, have remained enthusiastic and supportive throughout all of my years at SUNY Cobleskill.

 

What is your favorite place to be (on campus or in the community) here in Cobleskill?
My favorite place to be is in the herpetology room in Home Economics, the building that houses most of the Fisheries and Wildlife classes. The herp room has a bunch of snakes and turtles that we've accumulated from private owners, breeders, and DEC's Operation Shellshock. I know to most people the idea of snakes is hardly relaxing but to me they're comforting, I even have one of my own.

 

Is there a professor who inspires you in and/or out of the classroom?
The dedication and time that these professors put into their students is remarkable. When I tell students from other schools that my department only has two wildlife and two fisheries professors they are shocked and always wonder how they can do so much on their own. Dr. Losito and Kevin Berner have given me so many opportunities and supported me in every way they can.

 

How do you keep busy outside of the classroom?
Outside of the classroom I tend to be overly busy. I am the current president of the student chapter of The Wildlife Society through Fall 2010; the coordinator of the annual Fish and Wildlife Festival for nearly three years; the coordinator of the 2011 Northeastern Student Conclave for The Wildlife Society Northeastern Chapter; an Orange Key member; a Student Government Association member; a tutor at the Center for Academic Support and Excellence; and an orientation leader for the fall semester. This upcoming year I will also be working on a research project on campus studying black-capped chickadees. I also help with the village of Cobleskill's Earth Day Community Clean Up each year.

 

What are your future plans for after SUNY Cobleskill?
After I graduate this spring I plan to attend a graduate school program to study and research birds. I would like to work in the field running research projects. Eventually I hope to become a professor at a university to teach Ornithology, Evolutionary Biology, and possibly Herpetology. I also plan to do research on my off time.

 

How has SUNY Cobleskill challenged you?
SUNY Cobleskill has pushed me to be a more involved student and to work my hardest in and out of class. I had always done well in school but being here has challenged me to go the extra mile not just for me but for others.

 

What opportunities has SUNY Cobleskill afforded you?
SUNY Cobleskill has afforded me many opportunities that I do not believe that I would have had at other colleges. Being a part of The Wildlife Society has allowed to me travel all over the country for different conferences, including Miami and Monterey Bay, Calif. These conferences also allow me to meet not only other students in my field but professionals as well. The professors also encourage students to get summer jobs working in the field which have allowed me to work in places such as the Ozark Mountains in Missouri; South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; and even close to home on Long Island. Without SUNY Cobleskill and the professors here, I do not believe I would have realized how much I enjoy coordinating events and teaching others.

 

Fun fact: I enjoy singing and jump at the chance to sing karaoke!