2018 Alumni Features

Concordia College is proud to have an incredible network of alumni impacting communities around the world. We want to showcase a few of them and the amazing work they are currently doing.

CONTENTS 6 ... Abby Boggs-Johnson 8 ... Bailey Tillman 10 ... Christie (Gleason) Lewandowski 12 ... Grace Bateman 14 ... Jack Yakowicz 16 ... Joleen Baker 18 ... Justin Odney 20 ... Katie Twedell 22 ... Kiersten McMahon 24 ... Kylie Windecker 26 ... Madeline Johnson 28 ... Marta Fitzer 30 ... Michelle Hiebert 32 ... Morgan Schleif 34 ... Noah Ford-Dunker 36 ... Riley Anderson 38 ... Shelby Cochran 40 ... Spencer Livdahl 42 ... Brian Halverson 44 ... Devan Luth 46 ... Matthew Dymoke 48 ... Rachael Schauer 50 ... Katie Black

Abby Boggs-Johnson ’10 Director of Marketing and Creative Services, Discovery Benefits Major(s): Communication-Public Relations and Spanish What do you do?

I help oversee all of the marketing and content strategy for the Discovery Benefits brand. We’re a national third-party administrator of employee benefits, and our team does all of the marketing for the company in-house. The best part about my job is that I’m always learning and strategizing. My role has a lot of variety and I get to work on creative projects with my team every day; I absolutely love it!

What skills do you need for marketing?

The world of marketing is always changing, especially when it comes to digital. That’s why a willingness to learn, eagerness to share and try new, creative ideas and the ability to look at an outcome from different angles, as well as the ability to identify trends or patterns and determine why something might or might not have been successful, are all important skills in this field.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I wish I would have had more confidence in that everything would work out post-grad. Everyone has moments of panic as they near graduation.

Looking back, I now know my classwork, internship and on-campus activities, and experiences like my May Seminar prepared me to enter the professional world after graduating.

6

Bailey Tillman ’18 Video Editor, KNOCK Inc. Major(s): Multimedia Journalism and Spanish; Film Studies minor In a brief summary, what do you do?

As a video editor, I take the footage from video shoots and piece it together to create a story. I find the best shots and choose the best couple of seconds from those to work with. I sometimes take over an hour of footage and cut it down to a 20-second clip.

What is the best part of your job?

It’s different every day. I’m someone who doesn’t do well with monotony, and I certainly don’t get that here. One day I’ll be finding music for a company’s brand video, the next I’ll be piecing together clips for another’s Instagram story.

I’ve never had the same week twice.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I wish I’d known how much time I had to spend with friends. I felt so busy during college, but I had ample time to hang out with friends and people I cared about. My advice would be to take advantage of your college years when you live so close to your friends. Schedule more coffee dates, get lunch together more often, and don’t take the time for granted.

How did your time at Concordia prepare you for your current work?

I owe a lot to my mentors at Concordia. Whether they were professors, advisors, RAs, or employers, Concordia has such an amazing community of leaders and they showed me what it’s like to be patient, passionate, adaptable and resilient. I left Concordia feeling confident and ready to tackle whatever came up, and I know that will help me beyond my current work and for the rest of my life.

8

Christie (Gleason) Lewandowski ’14 Resource Development Manager, United Way of Cass-Clay Major(s): Business-Management and Communication In a brief summary, what do you do?

My role is to make meaningful connections in the community in order to engage others in the work of United Way of Cass-Clay through volunteering and giving. I manage a volunteer group that helps make connections with business leaders, conducts presentations to share the results of our Bold Community Goals and works directly with leaders in our community to reach our annual campaign goal of $6.25 million.

What is the best part about your job?

I am honored to collaborate with people and volunteers who are enthusiastic about caring for others and making a difference in our community.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Strong communication skills are extremely important. The key is to be a good listener, care deeply, communicate clearly and be yourself.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I had an incredible college experience. I continually use the skills and tools I learned at Concordia. All of the challenges, opportunities and growth I experienced have been important pieces of my journey.

10

Grace Bateman ’17 Project Manager + Words and Creative, Tellwell Major(s): Communication Studies; Business minor

In a brief summary, what do you do?

I act as one of the communicators between our clients and our team to keep the flow of communication open, keep projects moving, and make sure our clients’ needs are met. In between, I get to help write, proof, edit and design various content pieces.

What is the best part of your job?

Our clients and my team. We get to work with some awesome organizations that are doing really good things in the community, and we have lots of fun doing it.

What skills are necessary for success in your industry?

Organization and people skills – both in one-on-one and group settings.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” While this was something I did know, I didn’t take it seriously. It’s really important to get connected and form relationships with people who are in the career or field that you’re interested in being in.

12

Jack Yakowicz ’15 Marketing Manager, Office Sign Company Major(s): Business; Communication-Organizational Leadership minor In a brief summary, what do you do?

Running the marketing department for an e-commerce business that’s been steadily growing locally means that every day is quite different for me. For our e-commerce/digital marketing efforts, I spend a lot of time developing products, running campaigns and promotions, creating content, working on SEO initiatives, and directing online selling strategies. For our local efforts, I get the fun task of helping our brand recognition expand in Fargo-Moorhead by overseeing trades, sponsorships, partnerships, client relations, advertising, campaigns, and more.

What is the best part about your job?

The culture at Office Sign Company is top-notch. From shutting down work to go to a RedHawks game, to partaking in the “Beer O’clock” celebrations on Friday and playing Spikeball outside our break room – it’s pretty spectacular.

I was first drawn to being an employee of OSC due to the outstanding culture and family-vibe that was prevalent within the office, and now I have the luxury of being able to shape the culture through heading our Culture Committee and the “FUN” budget. By working in an environment that devotes this amount of effort to employee happiness, we’re able to build a community of employees who are equally committed and loyal to our company.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

An ability to understand people, and articulate yourself well both verbally and in written form. Campaign management, design, e-commerce – those are all things that can be taught and learned on the job fairly easily. From my experience, the ones who get ahead in this industry are those who possess great people skills and have a high emotional intelligence.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Get more involved in the F-M community early on. There are SO many opportunities that I didn’t even know about until after college – the American Advertising Federation, The Chamber luncheon and involvement with committees for nonprofits.

14

Joleen Baker ’16 Produce Manager, Prairie Roots Food Cooperative Major(s): Environmental Studies In a brief summary, what do you do?

I am the produce manager at Prairie Roots Food Cooperative. In short, I am responsible for all the fresh fruits and veggies at the co-op – ordering, merchandising, pricing, etc. However, the not-soshort version is what makes it so fun. I get to work with farmers and growers in the Red River Valley to bring healthy, local food to the people of Fargo-Moorhead. Last year we worked with more than 15 produce vendors alone, which not only means we had loads of local produce in the store for opening day, but also means that the dollars folks spent at the co-op went directly back into the hands of their neighbors.

What is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is the relationships I have built with farmers and community members. My favorite thing is to hear customers boast about how wonderful their dinner was last night, how they featured local ingredients, and how easy it is for them to choose local every day at the co-op. I get to be the liaison between farmers and community members, and I find great joy and pride in that.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Many of the skills necessary for success in food retail (or any food systems work) cannot be learned in a classroom; you learn them through experiences. Those experiences could be internships, jobs, extracurriculars, etc., but the point is that they get you out of your comfort zone. When I took this position I had never held a job in grocery retail or management, but I had an open mind and I was eager to learn and do my absolute best, and that is exactly what I did. The skills you need for this job (and, I would argue, for most jobs) are passion and grit. You might not like your work every day, but that does not mean you shouldn’t work hard every day.

16

Justin Odney ’17 Customer Success Manager, Microsoft Major(s): Business-Marketing and Finance In a brief summary, what do you do?

I serve as a trusted advisor to Microsoft’s cloud computing customers, helping optimize their business by aligning our services to their desired business goals and objectives. Think of me as a double agent, acting both as my customer’s account manager and as a product consultant.

What is the best part about your job?

The people around me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. But the people on my team are what make it so easy to come to work every day. Microsoft has built an incredible culture that reminds me of being on campus.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Persistence, adaptability and a strong work ethic. Be willing to take on ambiguity and build up those around you whenever you can.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

When preparing for life outside of college, employers will often look for impact versus achievement. You can have a stellar resume with a great GPA and extracurricular involvement, but hiring managers want to know WHY you did what you did. Not WHAT you did. Start brain-storming your passions and create a narrative of your impact on the Concordia community (and the world – #BREW).

18

Katie Twedell ’13 Project Manager, FlintGroup Major(s): Business-Marketing and Studio Art

In a brief summary, what do you do?

As a project manager at FlintGroup, I am in charge of seeing overall projects through planning and execution. I work with a variety of clients in varying industries which ensure that things don’t get boring and days go by quickly.

What is the best part about your job?

Working with a very creative and talented bunch of co-workers, helping clients meet their marketing needs, and seeing a project through from planning to completion.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

The ability to be nimble and problem-solve to meet client expectations and strong communication skills (important for working with internal teams and clients).

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Always be looking for ways to make connections and build relationships, you never know how someone might impact your life and/or help you get to the next step your career. And, it’s ok to change your mind. Don’t be afraid to take a different job opportunity or pursue a passion. Always go where you are needed most.

20

Kiersten McMahon ’16 Junior Paralegal, Target Real Estate Group Major(s): History and Political Science; Business and Classical Studies minors In a brief summary, what do you do?

I review real estate documents to identify legal terms and clauses to input into a computer system used as a reference by real estate attorneys and professionals.

What is the best part about your job?

Knowing that I work for a company that values its employees and being able to connect with a wide variety of attorneys and legal professionals at different stages in their careers.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

An ability to summarize and analyze dense, lengthy documents while using critical thinking to keep the communications concise and relevant.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Colleges are wonderful at stressing the importance of networking for success after graduation. So I was involved in multiple organizations on campus and took multiple internships and jobs during the summers. I met many amazing individuals in the process. However, successful networking isn’t about how many people you know, but genuinely connecting with a few people in your network who can help guide your career in a more meaningful way.

22

Kylie Windecker ’16 Director, Park Region Hall/Alcohol and Sexual Assault Programing Coordinator, Concordia College Major(s): Social Studies Education; Psychology minor In a brief summary, what do you do?

I am really lucky to play two different roles on campus. As the Park Region Hall director I am in charge of the building and making sure the people who live in it are safe and hopefully living their best lives. I often say the best part of this job is the wide range of students I get to work with – including Residence Life student staff and other student leaders, students who require a bit more support and encouragement, and everyone in between. Plus, we all know that Cobbers are the best, so. For the coordinator role I hold, I get to partner with different folks on campus to start developing and implementing some programming about discouraging sexual misconduct and encouraging safe alcohol consumption.

What is the best part about your job?

Most of us as students and alumni say the best part of Concordia is the community, and that sentiment does not change as an employee. I absolutely love the students I work with and I feel so lucky to play a role in their lives during their college experience, but I also work with the most wonderful staff and faculty who are encouraging, empowering and still teach me so much.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Working in Student Development and Campus Life is, surprise, all about the students. It takes a ton of passion for students and their college experience, as well as a lot of educational skills (Shout Out to the ed department) to assist and encourage students in their development.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I got really worried at the end of my senior year that I had peaked in college and that my life would be all downhill from there. THANKFULLY, it turned out that I was passionate about college because that is where I was meant to spend more time, not because 22-year-old Kylie was the best version of myself I could be. So, I wish I had known and believed that the best was still yet to come.

24

Madeline Johnson ’17 First-Grade Teacher, Robert Asp Elementary, Moorhead Major(s): Elementary Education; Psychology minor

In a brief summary, what do you do?

I am currently a classroom teacher for 20 energetic, uniquely wonderful little humans. I teach all subjects, as well as countless social skills lessons that arise throughout the busy days of 6- and 7-year-olds. I also spend MANY hours outside of our school day reading curriculum, planning/preparing lessons, updating my behavior plan, finding books to add to my classroom library, laminating, cutting … you get the idea. I’m learning even more that a teacher’s job truly never ends.

What is the best part about your job?

The best part of the job is most definitely the people I work with both the students and the faculty. I am lucky enough to be a part of an incredible group of educators who are supportive of each other both in and out of the classroom. I have learned so much during my first year because of the amazing teachers I am surrounded by every single day. We don’t just teach curriculum; we teach children first. It is clear the whole school shares this mentality; it truly takes a village. I can’t forget about my students – my first-graders are full of personality, spunk and enough lessons to last a lifetime.

Experiencing their growth throughout the year has been absolutely incredible. Although we all have our tricky days, each one of those kids will always have a special place in my heart.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

As a teacher, it is so incredibly important to be passionate, patient and flexible. When you teach children, the most important part is building a relationship with the students. Your students need you to know that you genuinely care about them – not only as readers, writers, and math-thinkers, but as people. Students come from all types of situations and it is important to meet each one with as much compassion and empathy as they need. No matter what happens, approach each day as a fresh start.

26

Marta Fitzer ’15 Graphic Designer, ABOVO Major(s): Art-Graphic Design concentration In a brief summary, what do you do?

I design and create materials for our clients such as logos, social media campaigns, magazines, board games, and so much more.

What is the best part of your job?

One of my favorite parts of my job is the variety. Every day is different. There are new clients and new projects all the time and I never quite know what I could be working on next.

What skills are necessary for success in your industry?

Problem-solving is so important in design and marketing.

I’m constantly brainstorming and problem-solving with my co-workers so we can produce projects that our clients love and we can be proud of.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I wish I knew how nice mornings can be when you get up early and relax with a cup of coffee before work.

28

Michelle Hiebert ’15 Medical Student, Montana State University, WWAMI Major(s): Chemistry-ACS Biochemistry concentration What have you done since graduation and what are you currently doing?

After I graduated, I took time off to travel to and live in the Middle East and Central Asia with a program called Youth with a Mission. I applied for medical school and did not get accepted the first time (there is hope for all who don’t get in right away.)

So, I took another year off and became the interim youth pastor at my home church in Butte, Mont., while also working as a nursing assistant in a nursing home. This was one of the best years of my life. I reapplied, was accepted, and have been busy studying (*cough and skiing and hiking) for the past two years.

What is the best part of medical school?

The best part is the insane rate of growth you achieve as a person – growth in knowledge, empathy, interpersonal skills, faith, relationships, and developing into the type of “real adult” you have envisioned for yourself.

What skills are necessary for success in medical school?

Time management is such an important skill to learn either in med school or whatever season of life. Empathy and respecting people from all walks of life will also take you further in medicine than simply being intelligent.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I wish I had figured out earlier to take myself, others, and life less seriously. There are certainly times to buckle down and be serious, but overall, things eventually find a way to work out even if it isn’t your perfect plan or timing. When I was rejected from med school the first time, I had to come face to face with my plans being changed and things not lining up in my 15-year 15-step plan. I had the best year of my life being rejected and am now in a med school class that I love.

How did your time at Concordia prepare you for graduate school?

Conco taught me to study … HARD. I learned how to put in 9-12 hours as a “normal” study day in college and often give up my weekends. It may not seem like much, but having the endurance to study like that and learn large amounts of material quickly and efficiently while not being mad about studying for a whole weekend has been my lifesaver in med school. Concordia’s education in areas of social issues and justice also helped prepare me for the more nuanced ethical discussions that come with medicine.

30

Morgan Schleif ’16 Founder and Photographer, M.Schleif Photography Major(s): Art-Graphic Design concentration and Communication-Public Relations In a brief summary, what do you do?

I capture the energy of experiences and the passions of people.

What is the best part about your job?

Meeting new people, validating them through imagery, and giving back to the community that has so eagerly supported me in my entrepreneurial journey.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Adaptability, interpersonal communication skills, and a humble heart.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Take advantage of this stage. Get involved, ask too many questions, and formulate relationships – each and every experience will come in handy in the future regardless if they directly correlate with your “major” or not, expand outside of your comfort zone!

32

Noah Ford-Dunker ’13 Senior Marketing Associate, Eide Bailly Technology Major(s): Business-Marketing, Music Composition/Latin

In a brief summary, what do you do?

I run all of the digital marketing for Eide Bailly Technology. This includes paid advertising with Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. I also analyze and report on all of these marketing channels, using that data to influence what we’re going to do going forward, what’s working, what’s not, and how we should be spending our marketing budget.

What is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is the flexibility. Since it’s almost all online and we’re collaborating with people in 14 different states, I can do my work from anywhere, whether it’s at the office, at home, or at Starbucks.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

I think that the ability to approach a situation and come up with creative ways to solve the problem is an essential skill. Concordia did a great job preparing me for creative problem solving. I think having a liberal arts education, where I had to take classes outside of my majors was key in developing this skill.

34

Riley Anderson ’18 Director of Promotions, Schaumburg Boomers Major(s): Communication-Public Relations; Business minor In a brief summary, what do you do?

If you’ve ever been to a minor league baseball game (or Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks game!), you likely noticed elements of entertainment sprinkled throughout the game. Whether through themes, giveaways, on-field games or sound effects, every game is like a mini production. I am in charge of creating, planning and executing these fun little components. When I’m not on-field emceeing, I typically am in my office, buying merchandise for our team store, scheduling meetings with sponsorship clients, or working on executing a new theme night.

What is the best part about your job?

I really like all of the independence and responsibility this role requires. If something goes poorly, that’s on me and that pressure helps motivate me to be better every game. Besides that, I love running our team store – I get paid to shop and that’s really the dream.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

One hundred percent work ethic, tenacity and some courage. We have a small team working tirelessly to make this big machine run as smoothly as possible. Everybody really has to be willing and able to put in the time and effort to deliver a worthwhile product to our fans. If you aren’t willing to work hard, you’re not going to have much luck.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

So many things; I wish I wouldn’t have been in such a rush to finish (I graduated in three years). College really puts you in an environment that fosters so much growth.

I miss that and wish I had appreciated it more at the time. I wish I would have understood how rare the opportunities presented at Concordia are and that I would have made the most of every resource, speaker and showcase the institution provides for free.

36

Shelby Cochran ’11 Director of Operations and Merchandising, dogIDs.com Major(s): Theatre Arts and Communication-Organizational In a brief summary, what do you do?

I manage the day-to-day operations of dogIDs, an online retailer and brand that makes personalized dog products. I also manage our catalog of products.

What is the best part about your job?

I mean, other than dogs in the office, I love getting to see the team pull together to complete big projects.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

A desire to learn and constantly improve. With e-commerce and digital marketing, the trends are always changing so there’s no real way you ever know everything you need to. You have to be willing to change things up all the time.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Finding your career path is a lot more about finding a company that shares your values than getting the perfect job. I wish I had known that when I graduated and started interviewing for my first big-girl job. Ask more questions about the company to make sure it’s the right fit for you before making the leap.

38

Spencer Livdahl ’14 Electrical Engineer 2, Boston Scientific Major(s): Applied Science

In a brief summary, what do you do?

I design, validate and troubleshoot custom, automated electrical test systems, and software and fixtures for medical devices and subassemblies.

What is the best part about your job?

Personally, I need to do work that I feel has a purpose and for me that includes testing devices that improve people’s quality of life, which is meaningful and challenging work. Mistakes have big consequences and so I also like the attention to quality and detail.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Interpersonal skills, patience, persistence, problem-solving, creativity and good documentation skills.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Failure is the best teacher. Embrace the struggle.

40

Brian Halverson ’06 President, Heartland Trust Company, Fargo Major(s): Business; Studio Art minor What is the best part about your job?

The fun part for me is working on strategies to implement that will continue to make us successful … examining what we can do to make us more efficient, more productive and grow, but also maintain our values, our culture and our mission.

What advice do you have for recent grads?

Create your own set of values and mission statement, like a business does, but do it for yourself. That will help you find what your true passions are and it will help you analyze businesses you want to work at. Align your values with a business that has similar values and, chances are, you’ll be a great cultural fit and truly enjoy what you do.

What is one book everyone should read?

“The Go Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann.

42

Devan Luth ’15 Major Gifts Officer, YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities Major(s): Communication Studies/Theatre Art; Psychology minor In a brief summary, what do you do?

As a major gifts officer, I connect with individuals, foundations and corporations to increase financial support for the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities. Through building relationships, I connect our donor or funder’s passions and giving priorities with the funding gaps of the YMCA to best serve our greater community.

What is the best part about your job?

Through my work, I regularly meet new people who are connected with the Y. It amazes me how many people have a “Y story” that often showcases a transformational experience that made them the person they are today. The YMCA has been serving Minnesota since 1856, so you can imagine how many lives have been touched by the Y’s mission. The best part of my job is hearing the stories from the amazing YMCA donors and staff. It makes me wonder how many Cobbers also have a “Y story.”

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Listening with integrity. When I first started in fundraising, I learned the philosophy of joyful giving which has been a compass for me as a fundraiser ever since. Joyful giving is when a person donates to an organization in a way that is fulfilling to them. Whether that is $5 or $5 million, what is constant is the joy within each gift. Everyone has different capacities and passions, but when you listen with integrity, you build a genuine relationship with donors that helps them fulfill their values through a donation.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

Fail forward and fail fast. When you graduate from college, you raise the stakes. Embrace the opportunities Concordia provides through the variety of required classes and options for extracurriculars. College is the time to find what you like and do not like. It is also a time for you to better understand your best skills. When you take risks and fail, you will grow. This will help you focus and better understand your skillset which is essential for today’s workforce.

44

Matthew Dymoke ’14 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Concordia College Major(s): Social Studies Education What do you do?

As the assistant director of Alumni Relations, my days rarely look the same. Most of my days are spent planning events for young alumni, working with our Family Weekend and Homecoming committees, partnering with students and advising our Cobber SALT team, creating young alumni fundraising initiatives, and working with the class agents of the last 20 years. The ever-changing tasks make for a fun, fast-paced work environment and I love connecting with Cobber alums of all ages across the country.

What is your favorite part about your job?

The best part of my job is getting to work with such amazing people, both in the office and out in the community. Hearing about what makes Concordia special to different alums and students makes me appreciate this place even more and those conversations bring out my passion for Concordia every day. I’m so lucky to meet, plan, chat, and connect with incredible people and I get paid to do it. It’s a dream come true.

What skills are necessary for your career path?

It may seem obvious, but I think the most necessary skills for this industry are the ability to work well with others and work together toward a common goal. Everything we do in our office is in support of the college and the students, and keeping that in mind is crucial to the success of our work. I think the skills that help me be successful in my job are bringing a creative, innovative mindset to all of my projects and not being afraid to try something new.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I wish I had learned to relax because everything is going to be OK. I was so worried about getting the perfect job in the perfect city with the perfect friends, and I realized that those things will happen and I don’t have to constantly worry about it. Taking the time to just breathe and be in the moment is the best advice I ever got and I wish I’d embraced that more as a college student.

46

Rachael Schauer ’17 Education and Employment Coordinator, YWCA Cass Clay Major(s): Psychology In a brief summary, what do you do?

I provide education readiness and employment training to help women gain confidence and build lasting economic security through career growth. The program also provides access to our onsite computer lab and a variety of job readiness classes and workshops.

What is the best part about your job?

Just one? Each day fills me with a refreshing sense of hope. That hope may come from any one of my actively uplifting coworkers, seeing a volunteer instructor’s beaming smile after an especially rewarding class, doing a happy-dance with a woman who is making progress pursuing her goals and all the fun that comes with working in a space with children.

What skills are most necessary for success in your industry?

Patience and understanding. The most essential way to act as a resource for someone is to meet her where she is at and to be accessible.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

There are SO many opportunities to make a positive impact right here in Fargo-Moorhead. I felt a bit stuck approaching graduation when friends were making plans to continue schooling or pursue careers in exciting, far-away places while I would be staying in town. FARGO-MOORHEAD IS EXCITING AND THRIVING! If collegesenior Rachael knew how greatly working-young-professional Rachael would enjoy being involved in the F-M community, she would have felt much more comfortable popping the Concordia bubble.

48

Katie Black ’17 Minnesota GreenCorp Member, City of Saint Paul Major(s): Biology and Environmental Studies In a brief summary, what do you do?

I am an education assistant. As an environmental educator for Saint Paul Parks & Recreation, I educate individuals of all ages on pollinator conservation through a variety of public programs. I have developed a new gardening program to engage Saint Paul youth in urban wildlife conservation, and will be working with volunteers to install pollinator habitats and conduct citizen science projects in our parks.

What’s the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is that I get to share my love of the natural world with many people. It’s especially rewarding when you can share excitement about it with people who don’t have much experience with the outdoors.

What skills are necessary for your career path?

In the realm of environmental outreach, flexibility and creativity is key. Most of the time, environmental organizations AND outreach teams are both quite small. You have to be able to juggle multiple projects at once, work well with others, and have strong oral and written communication skills to get the public interested in your cause.

What do you wish you knew in college that you know now?

I wish I knew that competition to work in the environmental field is intense. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t land your dream position right out of college, and look for other opportunities – volunteering, classes, interest groups, etc. – that allows you to pursue your goals and dreams.

50