Kathryn (Carlson ’11) Pfister

Environmental Science

Biography

Since graduating with both my bachelors and master’s degrees in Environmental Science from Taylor, I have worked for ten years with various governmental agencies focusing on conservation and natural resource management. My initial positions after graduation were seasonal jobs with the US Forest Service and the National Park Service. I completed jobs in Michigan with water resources, Texas with Sea Turtle conservation, Oregon working with shorebirds, and in Mississippi with Sea Turtles and shorebirds. I was able to transition from seasonal work to full time work at a Michigan Conservation District near my hometown. For the past five years, I have worked with this district as a project manager writing grants and overseeing natural resource conservation projects.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

There were a couple experiences I had while at Taylor that significantly impacted my career. The most significant experience was my internship. I completed this internship with the Student Conservation Association and the US Forest Service in Nevada. I was able to get three months of hands-on experience and professional contacts during the summer of my junior year. Another very valuable experience for many reasons was the Black Hills summer field course.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

My advisor, Dr. Guebert, always gave excellent advice and encouragement in my professional pursuits. He gave me references that I really needed for early job applications. There were also some amazing classes taught in the department. Vertebrate Natural History, Ecosystem Assessment, Geospatial Analysis, and Hydrogeology provided excellent practical experience.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Due to the education that Taylor students receive and the synthesis of faith and learning, they are likely to enter the environmental field with a better work ethic and attitude on top of the knowledge they have gained. It is my experience that many students from other schools may have similar knowledge bases, but Taylor graduates perform work "as to the Lord" and have a good work ethic. They also treat others with Christian ethics, and they are more likely to succeed and excel professionally in the environmental field or any field.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

My best advice is to use time during undergraduate to find practical job experiences during the summer or even during the semester. Gaining those early professional experiences will enlighten you in which direction or concentration to take your career. These experiences will result in early resume building experiences that will give you an advantage in the job search once you graduate.