Forecasting the Future

A Scientist's Quest to Help the Environment

Jackie Beck enrolled at Lake Land College in 2015 with the goal of one day being a meteorologist. What she found, however, was that sometimes the journey doesn’t go as planned, and often, it leads to even greater things.

BREAKING GROUND

When she first started college, Jackie hoped to follow the footsteps of JC Fultz, a former WAND meteorologist and Lake Land alumnus. She enrolled in Lake Land’s earth science program with plans to transfer and complete a degree in meteorology.

Just as planned, Jackie graduated from Lake Land with an associate degree in Earth Sciences and even added a certificate in Geospatial Technology. What wasn’t planned, however, was that she found herself wanting to teach weather rather than forecast it.

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Jackie transferred to The Ohio State University and completed a bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences. She then decided to continue her education with the goal of one day teaching biometeorology at the collegiate level.

Currently, she’s on pace to earn three graduate certificates and complete a doctorate in 2026. “Ever since high school, I’ve found that my whole journey has never really gone as planned, so I’m learning to take a step back and embrace the adventure,” Jackie said. “My original idea of being a weather forecaster didn’t work out, but that just meant better things were in store for me.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

As a student in Ohio State’s graduate program, Jackie has instructed classes, served as a mentor for undergraduate students and researched crucial environmental issues such as ecological drought. She’s given numerous presentations across the country, sharing her research with national organizations in the worlds of meteorology and environmental studies.

“I’m interested in studying anything that helps people or animals,” Jackie said. “Growing up in Illinois where agriculture is so influential, I was able to witness the impact of droughts. I hope my research is able to make a difference and be used in solutions that help people.”