MaY 2009

What was your first job after graduating from MHC, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
My interest in environmental sustainability fostered at Mars Hill led me to transition straight from MHC to graduate school at UNC-Chapel Hill to study land use and sustainable development. After earning masters degrees in City & Regional Planning and in Public Administration, I accepted a position working at Guilford County government doing land conservation planning. There, I have learned that professional success hinges on a strong work ethic and interpersonal relations.

What was your major and why did you choose that field of study?
I decided to major in sociology late in my sophomore year after taking an introductory course with Gail Sawyer (faculty emeritus). It was actually a very difficult decision for me to settle on any one field of study. I enjoyed all my classes and saw an interdisciplinary link between them even though they were not technically part of the same field of study. I remember threatening my faculty advisor before choosing sociology to become the second student at MHC to major in “liberal arts” in order to avoid choosing a legitimate major! Sociology was a wonderful humanistic major that when coupled with my minor in environmental science allowed me to investigate human impacts on the environment through my coursework. I found my major advisor Ken Sanchagrin (faculty emeritus) and MHC faculty in general very accommodating and encouraging for students who wanted to pursue outside elective courses and independent studies that were related to their area of interest, which for me was sustainability.

What was your favorite class at MHC?
It’s very hard to choose just one, but I think my favorite class was Plant Taxonomy with Alan Smith. I remember it being a rigorous class yet a very rewarding one that left me with a skill set in tree and plant identification that I still use today. Identifying every native species of tree on campus was by far the most difficult assignment! It was during my hikes near MHC with Mr. Smith and Scott Pearson that I truly began to appreciate the ecological splendor and complexity of the NC Mountains. It may also be worth noting that I took this course as pass/fail, yet I found myself putting forth more effort in this class than others simply because of its appeal and practical application.

What is your fondest memory of MHC?
I recall working with Tom Plaut (faculty emeritus) and the Center for Assessment and Research Alliances (CARA) to organize a hot chili pepper eating contest at the Madison County Farmers’ Market, held in the lower chapel parking lot at the time. Various clubs, Greeks, sports teams and other groups from MHC competed against one another to eat the hottest peppers. It was a fun event that brought many students down to the local farmers’ market for the first time. Some of my old friends in the MHC Biology Club may be able to tell you about others!

In one word, how would you describe MHC?
Cultivator

What advice would you give current students?
1.) Assume a leadership role in a club or other group at MHC and choose valuable summer internships that you can place on your resume when applying for jobs or graduate school.
2.) Eat at least one meal per day at the Caf. and you’ll be better for it! I also recommend making friends with the employees there.

What you are doing now? Plans for the future?
Currently, I am half-way through my third year doing land conservation for Guilford County government and have gotten my realtor’s license to assist with this work. I am also a proud new husband and homeowner near Greensboro, NC. My immediate plans are to continue working in land conservation or some other area of sustainable development. After developing an interest in sustainable agriculture at MHC, I have become an avid gardener and chicken owner. At some point in the future, I’d love to devote more of my time to small-scale farming. On another note, I’d also like to reconnect with many of my MHC friends and contacts, particularly any living near the Greensboro area.