Graduation to Vocation

Meet Brianna Bui, one of our extraordinary student workers in #NCStateCNR`s Natural Resources Library. 📚

Brianna is a junior majoring in paper science and engineering and chemical engineering. She was recently named one of 10 students to receive a scholarship through the @ncsulibraries` Libraries Student Scholarship Fund. In her spare time, she volunteers with Girls Engineering Change (@gecncsu), an NC State-based organization that works to encourage young girls to explore their interest in engineering.

“I chose to work at the library because I wanted to find a job that would allow me to give back to my community. The libraries provide endless resources to students and faculty, and this was my opportunity to share those resources with others to improve their educational experiences."

Check out the link in our bio to learn more about Brianna.

Meet Ann Winstead (@ann_winstead), a recent #NCState23 graduate of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources (@ncstatefer).

Ann Winstead, who graduated with a bachelor`s in environmental sciences, was recently named one of three recipients of this year’s Mathews Medal by the NC State Alumni Association (@ncstatealumni). Winstead is the second student from the College of Natural Resources to be named a recipient of this prestigious award since 2022.

Ann made signification contributions to campus sustainability in her four years at the university. She worked as an intern for the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office, where she installed more than 250 compost pails to expand apartment composting.

“I am in constant awe of the drive Ann has to make NC State a more sustainable university. It is unique for a student to have not only the ideas for creating sustainable changes but also the skills to navigate the process for seeing their ideas come to fruition.” —Adam Bensely, waste diversion coordinator in NC State’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Office

To learn more about Ann, check out the link in our bio.

Recent #NCState23 graduate Kat Deutsch is blazing trails (literally). 🥾

This May, Kat graduated with a master’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management (@ncstateprtm). Her #NCStateCNR journey led her to @ncstateparks, where she works as a state trails planner, developing plans for 12 state trails throughout the state.

She first joined North Carolina State Parks` planning team in February 2019, immediately following the completion of her bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management at NC State. This February, she was promoted to state trails planner.

"Parks and recreation has had an important impact on my life and my health, which created a desire to share this with as many people as I can. I have a passion for fostering lasting connections between people and nature, because I believe in the power that this can have and the benefits that come with being outside. I also hope that my work inspires others to be stewards for the environment." —@itsthekatsmeow

Check out the link in our bio to learn more about Kat`s journey.

Meet #NCState23 graduate Omoyemeh Jennifer Ukachukwu. 👋 This month, she graduated with a Ph.D. in forestry and environmental resources (@ncstatefer).

She`s passionate about mitigating climate change, and she’s taking her skillset to the next level as a manager of forest carbon modeling with @anew_climate.

"My forest carbon modeling job is important for mitigating climate change, informing forest management decisions, supporting carbon markets, and advancing our understanding of the carbon cycle. Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in biomass and soil. With modeling, we can accurately quantify the amount of carbon sequestered by a forest, which can then be sold as carbon offsets."

Learn about Omoyemeh`s journey by checking out the link in our bio.

Brand new @ncstatealumni Corey White is using his Ph.D. to help North Carolina communities make data-driven decisions that contribute to climate resilience and promote environmental justice. Upon graduation, he will launch OpenPlains Inc. in Durham, North Carolina.

“By offering this platform, OpenPlains aims to make geospatial modeling and simulation more accessible, engaging, and effective, thereby helping communities to better understand complex issues and create more equitable and sustainable outcomes.

I view science as a creative pursuit to design and develop novel approaches to better understand the world around us in order to improve how we interact within it. My motivation to pursue my work stems from my desire to unite people to co-design more sustainable and resilient solutions to address these issues through geospatial analytics."

Learn about Corey`s journey by checking out the link in our bio.

Meet soon-to-be #NCState23 alum Houston Bumgarner. 👋 🎓 🐺

Houston will graduate with a bachelor’s in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology (@ncstatefer). Upon graduation, he will work for the @nationalparkservice at Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

As a biological science technician, Bumgarner will help to eradicate non-native trout populations and survey native populations of mountain yellow-legged frogs in the parks’ alpine lakes and streams.

"`Wildlifers` such as myself are so unique because we put ourselves out there and in uncomfortable situations. The crazy opportunities that come with working in this field are so much greater because of the challenges that we have to overcome — and the rewards we receive in return. The Milky Way is even brighter when you’ve had to bushwhack through a burn with your weight in survey equipment on your back. An average breakfast is tastier after a couple of weeks of boring oatmeal. Cool, clear sips of spring water are crisper and welcomed after sweating at hard tasks."

To learn more about Houston`s journey, check out the link in our bio.

As we know, this is a stressful time for our students; please ensure you utilize all the resources available for your well-being and mental health.

This week, the College of Natural Resources Academic Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion offices are hosting a CNR Student Study Break Room in Biltmore Hall, Room 2026. Please stop by and enjoy snacks, drinks, stress busters and other self-care resources from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Wednesday.

Our embedded counselor, Finn Losch, will host a virtual drop-in time (see link in bio) for both #NCStateCNR and @ncstatedced students on Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. Losch will also have a CNR drop-in time on Thursday, May 4, from 2-4 p.m. in Biltmore 2022C.

Check out the link in our bio to learn more about college mental health resources.