Forestry, Fire, & Rangeland Management

Crystal Welch

Year Graduated:

2014

Biological Science Technician (Plants)

Bureau of Land Management

Job description

I perform vegetation monitoring, exotic weeds management, rangeland health assessments, seed collection (seeds of success), and compile reports, data management, and more.

Why did you choose this program?

I took the upper division soils 360 course with Susan Marshall and it changed my world. I fell in love with the complexity of soil science. I had finally found my calling. I chose this program because of the intricacy of the science and the courses offered which would make me more favorable to employers. I was drawn to this major because of the obvious passion of the professors and their ability to challenge me in ways I never had experienced in academia.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

Nearly every protocol I learned in my lab courses were later utilized in my field jobs. In fact, I had enough hands on training and conceptual knowledge to explain to many new peers how to perform these protocols and why they were important in our trainings (LPI, soil aggregate stability, rangeland health assessments, etc,). These skills and practical knowledge led me to quickly advance as a leader after only one field season. This program more than prepared me for many types of jobs.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

I enjoyed the professors and the countless outdoor labs. Most importantly, I enjoyed how professors emphasized learning concepts instead of memorization of facts. This built the foundation of my understanding for rangeland and soil sciences.

Other comments?

Thank you, Susan!

Job description

Why did you choose this program?

How did this program prepare you for your job?

What did you enjoy most about the program?

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

Other comments?