Advice From Alumni


From a 2002 graduate:

I wanted to let you know what I am up to for your natural resources alumni records. I moved to southern california (Orange county) where I was lucky enough to get a job quickly. I got some names down here before moving and arranged to meet with FWS people as soon as I arrived. I met w/ a Humboldt grad in the Carlsbad FWS office (Slader Buck) who was extremely helpful and very willing to help Humboldt students. He hooked me up with a consultant and former Humboldt student (botany), Zak Likins, who works for Anteon Corporation. Anteon Corp., based in Virginia, mostly does computer tech work for the federal government. Their San Diego office has a small biological consulting department which I now work for. I work as a consultant primarily helping Camp Pendleton develop assessments related to Endangered Species Act compliance. I mostly work at home right now w/ a flexible schedule.

I feel very lucky to have landed this position. Please tell the students that come to you for advice that it pays to contact professionals yourself. I think it makes a graduate look professional and proactive and shows one's willingness to work hard. The Humboldt connection helped too. There is a definite tight Humboldt community in Southern California, which I didn't expect. My other advice is for students to get some policy training and GIS under their belt, which I didn't have and am scrambling to get now.

From a 1988 graduate:

I graduated from HSU in 1988 with a B.S. degree in wildlife management. I am currently working as a wildlife biologist for Portland General Electric in Central Oregon. I was hired by PGE in part for my knowledge of arid land habitats, weed control, and restoration projects. My career path has been a very circuitous route having been employed as a range technician, wildlife technician, fisheries technician and wildlife biologist by the federal, state and private companies. I pursued a degree in wildlife to work directly with the animals. I was lucky enough to have several opportunities to do this. However, all were seasonal employment. The
reality of the situation is wildlife jobs are very scarce, highly competitive and most are habitat oriented. If I had to rank what one skill that consistently opened employment doors it would be botany. Currently I am knee deep in learning soils to better understand the complex interactions between soils, plants, and hydrology so I can effectively manage habitats for the wildlife.

I know that the faculty at HSU is always updating the curriculum with the future employment of graduates in mind. I have a few suggestions that might make HSU grads more competitive in the field of natural resources. From my perspective I see habitat restoration as one area where significant employment opportunities will exist for some time to come. What knowledge base should grads have to be competitive in this field? Plant identification (especially arid lands), plant ecology
(especially relating to fire relationships and herbivory) and basic soils. The key is soils. Everything is rooted in soils, understand the soil and you unlock the site potential. Simple as it sounds this knowledge of soils is lacking in resource managers today. Soil scientists are labeled as "scarce skill" resources on many BLM districts & forests in Oregon. What better way to gain an employment foothold than to have a "scarce skill"? Combining soils with the knowledge of plants and animal habitats would create a highly employable graduate. I would encourage students to take soils, plant ecology and plant taxonomy. I know these courses have a tough reputation but the reward I think is worth the price.

I feel very fortunate that I was able to find permanent work in the wildlife field and I hope that my experience can shorten the wait for others following.

Thanks for the opportunity to help.



If you wish to submit helpful advice/comments for Wildlife students, please contact Dr. Jeff Black . Thank you.