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“My experience in the Environmental Studies program at Shenandoah went far beyond just the theories and hypotheses that are taught in the classroom,” states Daniel Cooper ’13. “Dr. Bousquet and Dr. Kincaid had us out in the field, letting us learn real-world techniques and procedures. These experiences were very valuable when it came to applying for positions. As an entry level applicant, I had some skills and experiences that were usually only seen on professional resumes.”

During his time as a student, Cooper won the Baker Award for the best student presentation in botany at the annual meeting of the Virginia Academy of Sciences (VAS) in Blacksburg, Virginia. His presentation was “Assessing the Floristic Quality of Abrams Creek Wetlands” and his research was conducted during a yearlong independent research project under the guidance of Dr. Bousquet.

After graduating from Shenandoah’s Environmental Studies program, Cooper was hired by Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a private environmental consulting firm in the Northern Virginia area. In this role, he assists land developers to navigate environmental policy.

Cooper’s advice to current student is to, “always seek out experiences and skills that can improve both you and your resume. Remember, technical skills are good on a resume and personal skills are good in an interview, but the most impressive job candidate will have a healthy mix of both.  Continue to improve yourself and learn new things all the time.”