Austin College junior Brandon Harner will be the featured speaker at the Environmental Studies Lunch Talk at noon on Tuesday, October 24 in Wright Campus Center, Room 231. He will discuss his summer 2017 internship at Little Traverse Conservancy in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
Brandon is a junior, completing majors in political science and environmental studies.
Brandon chose the internship at Little Traverse Conservancy because he had never been as far north as Michigan. He wanted to learn about an ecosystem that he was largely unfamiliar with as well as get to see The Great Lakes. During his time in Michigan, he was on the stewardship crew, which basically monitored and cared for all of the land owned by the Conservancy. “The best part about that job is that every single day you go to a new location,” he said. “It was so interesting to experience new parts of Michigan every single day, and also to learn how to properly work all of the heavy equipment.” He said that on other days, he would go out with other staff members and conduct land monitoring on conservation easements, which was land owned by private owners with restrictions to keep the land healthy.
“This summer internship through the Environmental Studies Department has given me an incredible list of priceless connections in the conservation field,” Brandon said. He also spoke highly of the friendships made during the internship, and credits the experience with helping move him beyond his comfort zone and forcing him to grow as a student and a person.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.