Beth Loveless, a student at the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, described on April 30 her experiences studying ecology both in Wyoming and abroad. Loveless, who grew up in Douglas, said her education has allowed her to see connections between local and global ecosystems.
Loveless highlighted a recent trip to the Canary Islands with Haub School Associate Professor Jake Hochard as a key moment in her studies. “It was an amazing opportunity to learn about the ecology of the island; how different it is. But, also, we were able to see connections to the ecology of Wyoming,” Loveless said.
She said that hands-on learning is one of the most valuable aspects of her program. “The professors and the staff are very nice and welcoming,” she said. “I also like the content of our Haub classes. It’s very applicable to real life. I enjoy being able to apply our studies to my hobbies or things that I do in my daily life.” Loveless expressed interest in pursuing careers with organizations such as the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service.
Loveless added that sharing knowledge gained through coursework is important for raising awareness about environmental issues in Wyoming: “Something I am really proud of is taking what we’ve learned in class and discussing it with people outside of the classroom,” she said.
The Haub School has more than 1,275 alumni working across various sectors since its founding in 1996, according to information released by UW. The school brings approximately $2 million annually into research funding for Wyoming and supports communities through dedicated centers and institutes such as the Biodiversity Institute and Ruckelshaus Institute.
Programs like Tomé Scholars to Fellows provide scholarships for students addressing complex environmental challenges while initiatives such as the Wyoming Conservation Corps have trained over 150 young adults and veterans since 2021.
