UNITY UNITY MAGAZINE
FA L L 2 0 1 7
Understanding Extreme Weather
Sustainable Business Enterprise
First Master’s Graduates
Letter from the president Friends and Family of Unity College, Immersion. It’s become a bit of a buzzword in higher education lately, but it’s what we do at Unity College. It’s what we’ve always done. For decades now. From our signature Nova orientation program that just this summer celebrated it’s thirtieth season (congrats!), to sustainable ag student research into high tunnel production at McKay Farm — authentic learning experiences is our calling card. In this edition of Unity Magazine, we immerse ourselves in Unity College. Our people get it. Just look at the many members of the Maine Warden Service who come back as Unity College alumni every year to give current students the benefit of their experience and perspective. Several pieces in this edition follow the career development arc of our students: from meeting our professional staff, to a powerful internship, all the way to finding that first job or graduate school. Immersion means finding new ways to give learners access to a Unity College education — from across the state and across the world. We’re so proud of the first graduates of our Master’s programs. You’ll meet them and also get an in-depth look at how one of our newest graduate programs gives graduates a new tool for dealing with extreme weather and other large scale environmental challenges. This edition includes pieces about the newest undergraduate degree program, the B.S. in Sustainable Business Enterprise. It’s just one more example of Unity College’s commitment to provide a resource-rich learning environment and offer the absolute best mix of environmental degree programs in the country. All this immersion, all these learning experiences, is the result of your partnership, your volunteerism, and your own immersion into Unity College. You are what makes Unity College possible. Thank you. And those children you see on the cover? They are experiencing early immersion in Unity College (and Sandy Stream) through this past summer’s Environmental Science Camp. I’m sure we’ll see a few of them at Nova in just a couple of years. Enjoy this edition of Unity Magazine, and immerse yourself in Unity College! In Unity, Dr. Melik Peter Khoury President, Unity College
INDEX 6 internships 10 UNDERSTANDING EXTREME WEATHER 12 career services 14 faculty research 18 spying on Turtles 20 Sustainable Business Enterprise 26 little rock zoo 32 first master’s graduates U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
3
Unity Magazine Volume 32 No. 2 President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury Unity Magazine Team Micky Bedell Jlynn Frazier Erica Hutchinson Laura Reed Alecia Sudmeyer Chris Vigezzi Dr. John Zavodny Printer Franklin Printing Photography Micky Bedell Reeta Largen John McKeith Laura Reed iStock Cover Photo Micky Bedell The Unity College Mission Through the framework of sustainability science, Unity College provides a liberal arts education that emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Through experiential and collaborative learning, our graduates emerge as responsible citizens, environmental stewards, and visionary leaders.
4
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
5
Opportunity into Reality
6
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
Getting a Head Start on a Career UNITY INTERNS S TA N D O U T From plant biologists to conservation law enforcement officers, to animal care interns and even a member of an Alaskan trail crew, Unity College students spent this past summer accomplishing amazing things, and putting their majors — and passions — to work in professional environments for invaluable experience. “Our staff works incredibly hard to cultivate partnerships and help secure valuable educational
opportunities for our students, but we must be clear: we don’t place our students. We provide connections, opportunities, and interviews, but not internships themselves,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “It is the student who decides where to apply and who to reach out to. It is the student who submits their resume, cover letter, and does the interview. It is the student who lands the internship. We don’t place our students because we want them to know how to get a job themselves. We advise, direct, and encourage, but it is Unity College students who turn opportunities into realities.” Internship coordinator Reeta Largen often pushes students to
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
7
focus on their own particular skills and interests, and to apply their Unity College education outside “normal” expectations of their career paths. “We have relationships with zoos for captive majors, sure, but what about a wildlife park within an amusement park? Or working for a for profit institution? We want our students to be able to bring their knowledge of the environment and sustainable capabilities to an institution that doesn’t necessarily already do it well. We want them to be able to change the world around them for the better,” Largen said. Biology major Michael Martino (‘19) spent his summer as a Plant Biologist at Kingswood Golf Club in Wolfeboro, N.H., utilizing environmentally safe chemicals to control and manage invasive plant species around its entire 120 acres. He recorded and monitored the growth and spread of 20 different species of flora,
while also analyzing, measuring, and documenting soil nutrients to ensure a healthy ecosystem for favored plants. The golf industry’s use of chemicals, water, and other resources to maintain pristine conditions is often criticized for its effect on the environment, but Martino applied his Unity education to fight against that perception. His experience was so transformative that he is now seriously considering taking additional coursework and completing additional certifications to become a golf course superintendent, and maybe developing some kind of “super soil” that would be resistant to the common pests that golf course superintendents are constantly battling without negatively impacting surrounding ecosystems. Taylor Onessimo (‘19), a Captive Wildlife Care and Education Major, spent her summer as an Animal Care Intern at the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass, providing medical care to
Michael Martino (‘19) spent his summer as a Plant Biologist, utilizing environmentally safe chemicals to control and manage invasive plant species around 120 acres of a N.H. golf course.
8
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
orphaned and hurt wild animals and teaching life sciences, with a strong focus on biology, to students K-12. Onessimo had many hands-on opportunities at the center, which doubles as a veterinary clinic exposing interns to other career options. Martino and Onessimo will join more than 55 students on Thursday, Dec. 7 in the Tozier Gymnasium to offer comprehensive presentations on their internship experiences, helping underclassmen understand the variety of options and opportunities they have as Unity College students in picking their own future internship adventures. Having a captive audience also allows the presenters to more deeply reflect on their summer experiences and fully understand the value of their accomplishments.
Taylor Onessimo (‘19) had many hands-on opportunities as an Animal Care Intern at the New England Wildlife Center this summer.
Howard Asal (‘17) worked at Chatfield State Park in Colorado as a Commissioned Boat Ranger.
Brianna DeAngelis (‘17) was chosen to participate in the penguin program at Mystic Aquarium this past summer due to her enthusiasm during the interview process and her educational focus.
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
9
How big data can help us understand
e x t r e m w e a t h e E N V I R O N M E N TA L GISCIENCES CAN H E L P U S PR E D I C T, T R A C K , A N A LY Z E , A N D PR E PA R E FO R N AT U R A L DISASTERS The last few years have seen record breaking climate-related weather extremes across the U.S. and beyond. This summer alone, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and countless others have been devastated by hurricane landfalls, and wildfires have destroyed millions of acres of the Western U.S. It’s no wonder natural disasters are at the forefront of the national spotlight — but what can be done about them? With the help of GISciences, formed from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing, scientists can track, predict, understand the effects of, and ultimately help prepare for extreme weather events. “As the world continues to
10
change, it’s becoming more and more essential that people in environmental careers — wildlife biology, environmental sciences — start to weave remote sensing and GIS into their jobs,” Chief Distance Education Officer Dr. Amy Arnett said. “GIScience is big data visualized and put into an environmental context that matters.” All you have to do is take a look at some of the amazing things done with NASA satellite imagery every day: in Nepal, satellite imagery is being used to detect and predict potential landslides. In California, satellite imagery was used to pinpoint the reach of ongoing wildfires. NASA has even paired up with Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to support efforts to better understand, anticipate, and monitor natural hazards. “Satellite imagery is an amazing tool — especially with a hazard event. You can actually compare what an area looked like prior
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
to an event to what’s going on currently. Then, you can classify the images, track the changes, and get actual metrics,” said Dr. Rachel Isaacs, Distance Education Instructor of GIScience. “It’s a very visually impactful analysis. And this kind of information allows us to make recommendations on how to recover and prepare for the future.” A GIS database is comprised of spatial and attribute data which can include locations of interest, topographical information, land cover data, bodies of water, aerial photography, and much more. This database system can then be used to synthesize large volumes of data, allowing users to explore spatial relationships within and between datasets and amongst data layers. In its simplest form, GIS data can be used to make maps. For example, you can create a map of a research location, incidents, or routes. At its most complex, GIS can be used to model the impacts of climate change on plants and animals, assess the causes of spatial and
D I S TA N C E E D U C AT I O N U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
e r temporal patterns of fire activity in forests, or determine impacts of flood activity to coastal regions — becoming a powerful decision making tool for environmental researchers and managers. Remote sensing is the collection of geospatial data of the earth and its environment, typically using aircraft, satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones. Remote sensors collect data along the electromagnetic spectrum by recording energy from the earth’s surface: anything from visible light to near-infrared, thermal, and microwave energy. Remote sensing skills can be used in the management of natural resources, inventory of forest resources, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, terrain modeling, and even examining the impacts of climate change. “With GIS you bring in a lot of different variables. Soils, water capacity. Any field data that you might have collected that has a
spatial component,” Isaacs said. “And then using remote sensing and GIS, you can look at land change over time. That can be especially helpful after a natural hazard event like an earthquake or a wildfire, to fully understand its effects.” Students of the Master’s of Professional GIScience program at Unity College learn to identify and gather a variety of environmental data produced by government agencies, industry, academia, and popular media, and subsequently quality check, fix, analyze, and process that data in a way that relates to real-world environmental issues they may encounter in their careers - like the effects of natural disasters. Working environmental professionals within the program are able to bring data and concepts from their current jobs — data they’ve gathered in the field — and apply it as they work through their classes. Throughout the program, students learn to work within teams and communicate the
results of a final research project via presentations, videos, and written work to both scientists and the general public. “In an age of misinformation, we must be able to successfully communicate the sciences if we want to positively impact the world,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “It’s one thing to understand, predict and track the effects of things like natural disasters. It’s another thing entirely to do something about them, and our graduates are fully equipped to do just that.” Extreme weather is frightening enough on its own - with visualization, the issues at hand become clearer, and understanding can lead to a certain level of peace of mind. With tools like GIS and remote sensing, scientists can help prevent natural hazards from becoming natural disasters.
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
11
New Director of Career Services Ready to Dive into Student Aspirations When a student comes into Director of Career Services Sharon Bannon’s office, she never knows what kind of adventure they’ll bring. Do they want to be a dolphin trainer? An international businesswoman? The director of an environmental non-profit?
FINDING YOUR P L A C E AT N E W ENGLAND’S LARGEST E N V I R O N M E N TA L CAREER FAIR In a time when the green job market is exploding, America’s Environmental College is always working to connect environmental employers with students and other job seekers. Through our annual Environmental Career Fair, Unity College will bring over 100 different companies and organizations from across New England to the Tozier Gymnasium on March 6, 2018. Some experts say that upwards of 70% of all jobs and internships are landed through a networking opportunity, and New England’s largest environmental career fair offers ample selection for anyone pursuing their passions in the green economy. Exhibitors include conservation groups, but also major private sector companies and public agencies engaged in law enforcement, wildlife and habitat protection, and more. The environmental career recruitment event is free and open to the general public, though focused on current students and recent or anticipated college graduates. Employers will offer a variety of presentations and career-related materials, including equipment, applications, videos and personal testimonials from Unity College alumni.
12
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
No two students are alike. Some have no idea what they want to do or what their options are when they walk in — others have the next 12 years planned out. The obstacles and opportunities for each of them differ wildly, sending Bannon down the rabbit hole with every inquiry. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. “What you are essentially doing is trying to get a look at the career from the inside out and help the student reverse engineer it. There’s the job I want, so what is the path to it?” Bannon said. “Career services is like playing dress up. Every time you explore a different career it’s like you’re pulling on a new outfit. And who doesn’t love to play dress up?” Bannon’s own career has taken her across the U.S. and abroad, with time in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Germany. Her desire to travel and see the world pushed her toward foreign languages in her youth, and an undergraduate degree in German landed her in higher education, helping place exchange students from Germany at colleges across the country. The work
was rewarding, but fast-paced, and city life didn’t speak to her outdoorsy soul. So she packed her bags and moved to Maine, where Bannon subsequently worked at the University of Southern Maine for 21 years, and then 8 ½ years at Southern Maine Community College. She’s spent almost 30 years adventuring into real-world applications of her students’ dreams, connecting them with employers and graduate schools and helping with resumes, cover letters, interviews, and more. It was Unity’s environmental focus that initially drew her here, and the opportunity to dive into some truly fascinating careers. “I’m always the kind of person who says, ‘Why not?’ I’m always looking for an opportunity. And there comes a point in your career where you know it’s going to take a while to find the perfect job, so you always have your radar going. Enter Unity,” Bannon said. “This job looked really interesting. Unity looked interesting. This college has been doing some amazing things.” “I can’t wait to be a part of that. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people already and I hope that students will take advantage of my services. I’m really looking forward to helping this exciting place.”
“CAREER SERVICES IS LIKE P L AY I N G D R E S S U P. E V E R Y T I M E YOU EXPLORE A DIFFERENT CAREER YOU’RE PULLING ON A N E W O U T F I T.”
M.S. in Professional Science with 4 distinct tracks: Sustainable Natural Resource Management Designed for wildlife biologists
Sustainability Science
Become a sustainability practitioner
Environmental GIScience
Learn GIS & remote sensing tools to solve environmental problems
Conservation Law Enforcement
Advance as a leader/manager in the field
Sustainable MBA
Become a green entrepreneur and apply sustainability practices to your business
Certificates
Not ready for a full degree? Take one of our certificates to advance quickly in your field!
Certificate in GIScience Certificate in Sustainability
online.unity.edu
100% Online | Accelerated | Affordable | 5 start dates U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
13
FACULTY RESEARCH Dr. Kathleen Dunckle Dunckel, D., A. Weiskittel, and G. Fiske. (2017) Projected future distribution of Tsuga canadensis across alternative climate scenarios in Maine, U.S. Forests. 8. 285; doi:10.3390/f8080285 Climate change is expected to alter the suitable habitat of individual tree species, and forest managers require resources about the potential impacts on a regional scale to aid in climate mitigation efforts. Associate Professor Dunckel and her colleagues modeled and mapped the continuous distribution of Tsuga canadensis throughout the state of Maine at the regional scale with high precision, and used the random forest algorithm to create a strong prediction of suitable habitat for the years 2050 and 2100 from both high and low emission climate projections. The results clearly suggest a significant gain in suitable habitat for Tsuga canadensis range with a general northwest expansion. Dr. Aimee Phillippi L. Phillippi, Aimee & O. Yund, Philip. (2017) Self-fertilization and inbreeding depression in three ascidian species that differ in genetic dispersal potential. Marine Biology. 164. 10.1007; doi: s00227017-3214-x Although self-fertilization can mitigate the costs of sexual reproduction, many hermaphroditic marine invertebrates avoid selfing, presumably because of inbreeding depression, which could be offset by the immediate benefits of local adaptation and mating assurance. Professor Phillippi and her colleagues compared the likelihood of selfing and the magnitude of inbreeding depression among three
14
ascidian species that were known a priori to differ in larval dispersal potential. The results suggested that in marine hermaphrodites, gene flow, self-fertilization, and inbreeding depression should be evaluated as an integrated suite of traits, not independent characters. Dr. Janis Balda Balda, JB, Bulan, and Desmarais. 2017. Igniting Leadership: Ritual and Interaction within the AI Summit, in Developing Leaders for Positive Organizing: A 21st Century Repertoire for Leading in Extraordinary Times. Ed. Vogel, Koonce, and Robinson. Emerald Publishing. 440 pp. This case study developed two primary positive themes related to leadership development in college students: the emotional energy created by working with others toward a common goal and analyzing it “in action” through participation in an Appreciative Inquiry summit; and selfdetermination theory, observing that the increase in energy and emotional connectedness increases autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Dr. Pieter deHart deHart, P.A.P, J.M. Taylor, J.M. Doran, O. Howell, and L.E. Hurd. 2017. Trophic niche differences in arachnid predators between field and forest ecosystems. Entomological News 126(4): 328336, DOI: 10.3157/021.126.0401. Arachnids are important predators in arthropod assemblages that occur from early successional old fields to mature forests. As generalist predators, they may occupy
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
varying trophic niches in different environments that have different prey available. Dean deHart and his colleagues tested the null hypothesis that the trophic niche is invariant between old fields and forests in three groups of arachnids: cursorial and web weaving spiders, and harvestmen, by comparing the stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) in specimens of each group collected from field and forest. Cursorial spiders fed at the highest trophic level in both habitats, and likely consumed other predators as well as herbivores in the field. Web weavers showed slightly higher δ15N in the field than in the forest. Harvestmen and cursorial spiders had significantly lower δ15N in the forest, indicating a trophic shift downward during later succession when they may increase the proportion of detritivore prey in their diets. Dr. Carrie Diaz Eaton Eaton, CD and Highlander, H. 2017. The Case for BioCalculus: Design, Retention, and Student Performance. CBE-Life Sciences vol. 16 no. 2ar25 (link) doi: 10.1187/ cbe.15-04-0096 Calculus is one of the primary avenues for initial quantitative training of students in all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, but life science students have been found to underperform in the traditional calculus setting. As a result, and because of perceived lack of its contribution to the understanding of biology, calculus is being actively cut from biology program requirements at many institutions. Here, Associate Professor Eaton and her colleagues present an alternative: a model for learning mathematics that sees
Dr. Jack Hopkins III Murray, M., S. Fassina, J.B. Hopkins III, J. Whittington, & C.C. St. Clair. 2017. Seasonal and individual variation in the use of rail-associated food attractants by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in a national park. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0175658
the partner disciplines as crucial to student success. Eaton, CD, Anderson, LJ, Allen, D, Bowser, G, Pauley, MA, Williams, KS, and Uno, GE. 2016. Summit of the Research Coordination Networks for Undergraduate Biology Education. CBE-Life Sciences vol. 15 no. 4mr1 (link) doi: 10.1187/cbe.16-03-0147 (Curriculum Grant: NSF IUSE Math Subaward through Virginia Tech PI Susan Ganter. Unity College PI: CD Eaton, Senior Personnel: E. Perry, S. Wade, $156,394. Part of $2.65 million overall grant.) The first summit of projects funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Coordination Networks for Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) program was held January 14–16, 2016, in Washington, DC. Sixty-five scientists and science educators from 38 of the 41 Incubator and Full RCN-UBE awards discussed the value and contributions of RCNs to the national biology education reform effort. Associate Professor Eaton and her colleagues shared experiences regarding network development and growth, identified best practices and challenges faced in network management, and discussed work accomplished. Dr. Paul Guernesy Guernsey, P., 2017. American Ghost, SkyHorse Publishing, New York. Visiting Instructor of Writing Paul Guernsey’s third novel is narrated by the frustrated spirit of Daniel “Thumb” Rivera, a young college dropout and aspiring writer who was murdered while researching a book about life among members of Maine’s rural underworld. Not only does Thumb seek to solve and avenge his own murder, but even though he’s dead, he is still determined to write his autobiographical novel.
Dr. Jennifer Clarke Rose, S.J. and J.A. Clarke. 2017. Quantitative analysis of vocalisations and sounds of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae). Bioacoustics 27 (in press – publ online), doi.org/10.1080/09524622.2016.12 72003 Professor Clarke worked with colleagues from Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales in Australia to measure the acoustic characteristics of multiple, distinctly different tiger sounds and linked those sounds to behavioural contexts. Remote audio recordings of five captive Sumatran tigers at Taronga Zoo in New South Wales, Australia, were separated into seven categories and quantified regarding fundamental and peak frequencies, duration and, in some cases, harmonics or pulse rate. Their findings indicate that although loud vocalizations uttered by tigers have often been categorized as ‘roars’, ‘roaring’ is relatively rare and is used only in contexts of pain, fear and/ or high aggression, while the loud ‘moan’ is likely the more commonly heard vocalization and is frequently uttered by tigers in announcement/ contact contexts.
Similar to vehicles on roadways, trains frequently kill wildlife via collisions along railways. Despite the prevalence of this mortality worldwide, little is known about the relative importance of wildlife attractants associated with railways. Assistant Professor Hopkins and his colleagues assessed the relative importance of several railway attractants to a provinciallythreatened population of grizzly bears in Banff and Yoho National Parks, Canada, for which rail-caused mortality has increased in recent decades without known cause. Results showed that some bears in the region use the railway to forage and supplement their diets with spilled grain, but that individual use of the railway and associated foods were highly variable. Ben Potter Ben Potter recently completed an artist residency in Rockland, Maine funded through the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation, and, as part of this, completed a mural in downtown Rockland. He has also exhibited his work in several group and solo exhibitions, including solo shows at the Frank Brockman Gallery in Brunswick and Perimeter Gallery in Belfast. His sculpture will be featured in the “Materiality: the Matter of Matter” exhibition at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art this November-February.
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
15
Deanna Witman Witman, D., Photo Biologique: Light + Life, Gallery 1/1, Seattle, WA; April -June, 2017 Curriculum Grant: NSF IUSE Math Subaward through Virginia Tech PI Susan Ganter. Unity College PI: CD Eaton, Senior Personnel: E. Perry, S. Wade, $156,394. (Part of $2.65 million overall grant).
Dr. Carrie Diaz Eaton Unity College Associate Professor Dr. Carrie Diaz Eaton and collaborators from five other colleges and universities were awarded a 5-year, $2.9 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in August 2014. The grant will support coordinated initiatives of the Quantitative Undergraduate Biology Education and Synthesis (QUBES) Consortium. The product of an earlier NSF incubator grant, the QUBES Consortium is an alliance of professional societies and academic institutions united around common goals in quantitative biology education. Their first initiative was to articulate a vision for a collaborative workspace – QUBES Hub – that will be the virtual site of the larger project. Dr. Matthew Chatfield Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund grant for work on the Wood Turtle Project. M. Chatfield and C. Frederick, $16,100. + Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife noncompetitive research grant for work on the Wood Turtle Project. M Chatfield, $2,000.
16
The Wood Turtle is a mediumsized, semi-aquatic turtle that has experienced widespread declines throughout much of its range. The mixed aquatic-terrestrial life history of the Wood Turtle, coupled with sensitivity to human disturbance, may be partly responsible for the species’ vulnerability to habitat fragmentation and degradation. Associate Professor Chatfield initiated a mark-recapture study and a radio-telemetry and habitat mapping project on a nearby population in an attempt to understand how habitat use and movement patterns may be influenced by habitat fragmentation and degradation. Understanding these complex interactions will help provide a foundation for making informed, evidence-based management decisions. Dr. Matthew Chatfield and Dr. Cheryl Frederick Colby College / Allen Island research grant for work on the Amphibian Health Project. C. Bevier (Colby College), M. Chatfield and C. Frederick, $4,000. As a group, amphibians are the most endangered vertebrate class on Earth. They are also well known for their role as indicators of environmental quality and health. Associate Professors Chatfield and Frederick collaborated with Dr. Cathy Bevier of Colby College to track and document Green Frog populations in different aquatic environments at many locations in central Maine. The study provides an integrated approach to understanding potential stressors, which can influence amphibian populations, such as water quality or emerging infectious diseases like ranavirus and chytridiomycosis.
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
Professor of Art Ben Potter paints a mural in downtown Rockland as part of an artist residency through the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation.
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
17
Spying on turtles in the name of conservation U N I T Y CO L L E G E S T U D E N T S , FAC U LT Y A I D M A I N E D E PA R T M E N T O F INL AND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE IN YEARS -LONG TURTLE STUDY As the antenna slowly swept a semicircle into the crisp fall air above his head, Greg LeClair (‘18) listened closely to the steady beep of the receiver at his chest for any change in intensity. Up to his hips in leaf-strewn stream water, sporting camouflage waders and a Unity College baseball cap, if it weren’t for the radiotelemetry gear Greg could have easily been mistaken for a fisherman on a morning expedition. But his quarry was of a much craftier kind. Suddenly, he paused, eyes squinting
against the increasing blaze of a rising sun, and gestured upstream.
invisible to all but the carefullest passerby.
“We passed him. He’s that way,” he called out, catching the attention of two other student volunteers combing nearby banks for any sign of their clever target. Somehow they’d missed him — but that was no surprise. He could be anywhere: cozy under three feet of water or tucked happily between the roots of a tree. He might even be sunning himself beneath a thin layer of sand on a nearby beach, virtually
But twenty minutes later, the jig was up. Going on a hunch, Greg wandered up an embankment and into the woods nearby, antenna in hand, to search. The transmitter’s telling beeps assured that Gotham, one of ten radio-tagged turtles currently wandering the woods and waters surrounding Unity, Maine, promptly got pulled out of the shady protection of an overgrown raspberry bush. Since spring 2015, Greg and other Unity College students have followed the telling beep of their telemetry gear and waded through deep waters to locate turtles. In partnership with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Associate Professor Matt Chatfield initiated a mark-recapture study and a radio-telemetry and habitat mapping project on a nearby wood turtle population. At least once a week in fall and spring, students pull on their waders and search for turtles, both tagged and untagged, to collect data on.
Erin O’Leary (‘20) and Kathleen Carey (‘19) measure a wood turtle in the field as part of an ongoing mark-recapture study and a radiotelemetry and habitat mapping project at Unity College. 18
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
“This project and this college are a match made in heaven. We’re all about sustainability science, conservation and protection of the environment here, and this project
project through internships, work study, and volunteering through the campus herpetology club, helps students transition smoothly into graduate programs and further their career goals as biologists or conservation practitioners.”
really speaks to that,” Dr. Chatfield said. “This is a real opportunity to collect information that can be used rangewide to help conserve this turtle in its wild habitat, and also offers integrative experience that is essential in training the next generation of wildlife biologists and environmental problem-solvers. So far it’s been very rewarding — it’s always fulfilling as a professor to watch your students grow.” As a group, turtles are the most imperiled vertebrates on earth. More than 80 percent of species are already extinct or threatened with extinction. The wood turtle is especially at risk, and is experiencing widespread decline throughout much of its range. The species is currently listed as a Species of Special Concern in Maine, and as a Priority 1 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Maine’s Wildlife Action Plan. But data on wood turtles remains sparse, making Unity College’s study a much-needed attempt to fill in some of the gaps. The project will hopefully help scientists understand how wood turtle habitat use and movement patterns may be influenced by things like agriculture, road construction, and development. “This project, through close collaboration between students, faculty and MDIFW biologists, helps fulfill the mission of the College, while simultaneously empowering students through invaluable experiences on a local, yet globally-relevant conservation project,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “Participation in the
Each turtle found is tracked with a number, using the same system as the state of Maine because ultimately all of the gathered data goes on to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Besides their numbers, most turtles are also given informal names. “Shredder” came about after one turtle kicked so much during his transmitter glueing that he shredded the latex gloves of his handler. Another turtle unexpectedly turned up a solid half mile from his usual haunts one day and gained the name “Roman” for his efforts. “Gotham” got his name for his piercing yellow eyes and dark shell, bringing to mind an image of “the dark knight” for some students. Dr. Chatfield has watched many of his undergraduates become increasingly interested in the project over three years of study, seeing its influence on their career paths, skillsets and sense of responsibility. He said he leans on Greg in particular in a way generally reserved in academia for graduate students. He couldn’t be prouder of all the progress he’s seen. “I cannot stress enough how much this project means to a lot of students. And there’s really no limit to where we can take it. Even if they’re not interested in turtles themselves - although I personally cannot imagine why that would be the case - they are learning basic wildlife biology techniques and related techniques that may reach far beyond the internship, work study, volunteer, or even thesis experience that they achieve here,” Dr. Chatfield said. “My hope is that some of them will end up working with MDIF&W and continue with the wood turtles, or maybe continue this research in a Master’s or Ph.D. program.”
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
19
UNITY MAGAZINE
Not your average New Sustainable Business Enterprise Major the future of business Study after study demonstrates that “going green” is good business. Switching to solar, fuel cell or wind technology can earn companies a 30% tax credit on their energy expenditures. According to a UCLA study, companies that voluntarily adopt “green” practices and standards have 16 percent more productive employees than the average. A study from University of Illinois at Chicago estimated that $15 billion could be saved over 10 years if all U.S. hospitals began reducing electricity and natural gas use, curtailing unnecessary waste through smart purchasing, and recycling.
20
The next leaders of the environmental century know that sustainability and business do not have to be at odds with one another — and Unity’s new B.S. in Sustainable Business Enterprise gives these students the key business administration skills they need to successfully implement sustainability initiatives in a variety of organizations, and the entrepreneurial skills to start their own environmentally-minded businesses. “Of the world’s top 100 economies in 2016, 31 were countries and 69 were corporations. We need to keep that in mind when considering how to address problems of rising inequality and climate change,” said Dr. Janis Balda, an Associate Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at Unity College serves as point person for the new bachelor of science program. “Businesses must be revolutionized from the inside. Our graduates will have the skills they need to translate sustainability to
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
any business or field, and impact the choices they make every day.” The new B.S. in Sustainable Business Enterprise exposes students to the business world through Unity College’s distinct sustainability science framework. Graduates will be effective sustainability innovators, know how to work collaboratively in teams with diverse stakeholders, and view environmental issues critically to identify and address challenges at the intersection of economy, society, and environment. Courses in the program feature titles such as “Entrepreneurship for a Better World,” “Resolving Environmental Challenges,” “Sustainability, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility,” and “Sustainable Finance.” Bachelor’s degree candidates will travel to and work with regional, national, and international institutions, taking advantage of Unity’s position at the nexus of a large network of successful sustainable businesses and social
business degree organizations. In an SBE student’s final years of study they will specify one of four tracks: International Sustainable Development, Sustainable Energy Management, Sustainable Agriculture, or Sustainable Tourism. Professor Michael Womersley, Associate Professor William Hafford and Professor Doug Fox will join Associate Professor Balda in teaching track-specific courses, culminating in years of hands-on experience and professionalism in a variety of different fields for students to tap into. A strong liberal arts foundation and curriculum based in sustainability science will produce well-rounded graduates who understand how business and the natural environment work together. Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury will oversee the implementation of the new program and advise on its growth and progression.
“This is not your average business degree,” Dr. Khoury said.“A course or two on the environment is insufficient to truly address the issues at hand — so our students are immersed in sustainability science from day one, and will be able to recreate and reimagine the processes, products
and services of the industries they become involved with.” Information about the new Sustainable Business Enterprise Bachelor of Science is featured in this year’s coursebooks, preparing for a Fall 2018 launch of the new program.
This is my business suit. B.S. in Sustainable Business Enterprise
Go to unity.edu/business
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
21
Teaching from a distance Wildlife Biologist Dr. Brent Bibles adds expertise to Master’s programing
22
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
23
Dr. Brent Bibles could tell you a story or two about the differences between graduates and undergraduates. Where undergraduate students spend as much of the college experience finding themselves as earning their degrees, graduate students are more at a point in their lives where they have professional experiences and first-hand accounts to bring to the table. And where undergraduate students often need mentoring and guidance outside the classroom, graduate mentoring is more focused on professional career goals, and less about learning how to move through the world as a
Quantitative Methods, and the program’s capstone courses. As part of his work as a full-time distance education faculty member, he also helps review, assess and guide the curriculum. But it’s his work with students that really fulfills him. “They push me. There’s always the challenge of figuring out ways to improve what I’m doing, problem solving, and helping my students come to an understanding of complex material,” he said. “Our roles here are constantly evolving, but it’s the teaching that brings me back every day.”
degree offered completely online. Unity’s online master’s programing offers an affordable, flexible format for professionals seeking to advance their careers while working full-time or at a distance from the residential campus in Maine. Students benefit from small classes, world-class teachers, and flexible class schedules, creating a dynamic and personalized learning community. “Dr. Bibles has been an invaluable addition to the Distance Education Team,” Unity College Chief Distance Education Officer Dr. Amy Arnett said. “His experience in Wildlife Biology, his nationally-recognized
An ornithologist with a particular interest in raptors, Dr. Bibles has worked with several threatened or endangered species throughout his career. successful adult. They both have their upsides — and downsides — but the transition has been well worth it for Dr. Bibles. As Distance Education’s first full-time graduate faculty member, graduate students are his latest adventure, benefiting from his years as a wildlife biologist with experience in both online and graduate-level teaching. Since his hiring, Dr. Bibles has taught courses in the Master’s of Sustainable Natural Resource Management program such as Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management, 24
The types of things Dr. Bibles can do in the classroom and the types of content he can engage with are more in line with his professional background than ever before. Discussions among and with his students are more engaging because graduate students are, by definition, working with more complex data and processes than undergraduates.
scholarship and expertise — plus teaching experience — provides indispensable support to the Master’s in Sustainable Natural Resource Management program. He has been a valued colleague at Unity College for many years, and I always knew he would be a great addition to Distance Education if he wanted to make that career shift.”
As part of its comprehensive distance education initiative, Unity College began to offer an M.S. in Professional Science degree in October 2016 — the first graduate degree ever offered at America’s Environmental College, and the first
The Distance Education program is rapidly progressing with about 30 dedicated students from all over the country, ranging between 24 and 55 years old. The first master’s graduates are currently on track to finish their degrees this fall.
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
“There’s always the challenge of figuring out ways to improve what I’m doing: problem solving and helping my students come to an understanding of complex material.”
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
25
UNITY INTERNSHIPS
A Unity community in Little Rock, Arkansas LITTLE ROCK ZOO A HUB FOR UNITY COLLEGE INTERNS AND ALUMNI ALIKE
different animal diets, and advises all current and former students to take full advantage of the connections and resources left behind in Unity, Maine.
Over the years, Unity College students have left their mark on businesses across the nation through careers and internships, helping build unspoken partnerships and blazing career paths for students to come. One small zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas has found itself an unexpected hub for Unity students at all stages in life: alumni and current students alike.
Tiffany’s fiancé, Chaz James (‘16), also works with a variety of different animals at the zoo, from anteaters to tropical birds, red river hogs, camels and alpacas. His favorite aspect of the job is animal training, and he said having a training background from Unity College has been very helpful.
Little Rock Zoo, one of Arkansas’ most attended attractions and the state’s largest and only accredited zoo, serves as both a recreational experience and a hands-on classroom for staffers and visitors alike. Home to more than 725 animals representing over 200 species, from African penguins to the zoo’s heritage farm, the zoo is small but engaging and offers great potential for hands-on experience in the Captive Wildlife field. “I like being able to work with and get excited about the animals, and to share that excitement with our visitors,” Little Rock Zookeeper Tiffany DeMell (‘15) said. “It’s especially rewarding if someone is afraid or shy of an animal, and they leave with a bit more confidence and understanding. There’s also a unique dynamic here, where I get to help out in different departments.” Tiffany primarily works in the Farm and Water Fowl departments at the zoo, handling animals that vary as wildly as flamingos and surry dogs to horses and sheep. She says the opportunity to work between species has been wonderful, giving her great experience in different aspects of her field. Tiffany says she still calls Barn Manager Meg Anderson fairly regularly to talk about
26
“Unity properly prepared me for a zoo career. I knew what I was getting myself into and what I wanted,” Chaz said. “I’ve seen a lot of interns at other zoos that don’t really know what to expect. The captive program at Unity teaches you exactly what you’re going to do.” Both Chaz and Tiffany agree that the Little Rock Zoo internship program offers great opportunity for hands-on experience. As opposed to performing tasks that are purely observational or away from the animals, interns at Little Rock spend their days directly helping zookeepers, from feeding, to training, to shadowing vets and even watching surgeries. Carnivore Keeper and Internship Coordinator Kate Barszczowski said that interns work in specific areas such as carnivore, great ape, and reptile. “Part of our internship is to gain experience and to find out whether this is the right field for you. If we never let you interact with the animals how would you ever get that experience?” she said. “We’re a small zoo and we’re all hands on deck. What I see this program doing is helping shape the next generation of keepers, and that means doing the job.” Every year Little Rock gets more and more Unity College applicants for
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
their limited internships positions. Past interns and Unity College alumni who work at Little Rock as full-time employees report back to the community on the opportunities there. Barszczowski said they often know exactly how many Unity students are in an applicant pool because staffers let them know and check in on their status. She said it’s obvious how invested in they are in their Unity community. “One thing we’ve also noticed in our Unity College applicants, both those who work here full time and those who intern, is their enthusiasm. They’re passionate, ready and willing to do the job,” Barszczowski said. “They’re always well versed in their animal knowledge, and we take that good foundation and put it into practice. We’re a small zoo, and not necessarily well known, but I think we do a good job of educating our interns and setting them up for the future. I’m proud of what many of them have gone on to accomplish.” Little Rock Zoo isn’t the only internship site that’s building up its own Unity contingent. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is both a popular internship site and full-time employer for the college’s graduates. White Mountain National Forest in Lincoln, N.H. has worked with the college for years, and Mingho Springs Golf Course, in partnership with the Audubon Society, guarantees at least one internship slot a year to Unity students who want to help create more conservation focused areas within the Rangeley, Maine golf course. Internships bring Unity College students across the country every year, trailblazing paths in environmental career fields and growing the college’s reputation for graduating capable, passionate employees.
“Unity properly prepared me for a zoo career. I knew what I was getting myself into and what I wanted.”
Chaz James (‘16) and Tiffany DeMell (‘15) are both pursuing their zoo careers at Little Rock Zoo. U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
27
CAMPS, Eco Tours, and UNIQUE VENUES UNITY COLLEGE HAS A LOT TO OFFER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
What does it mean to be America’s Environmental College? To be — and prepare — leaders in sustainability science? It means looking beyond the standard limits of higher education. It means bringing environmental education and sustainability initiatives wherever they’re needed, whether you’re a recent high school graduate, a middle-schooler, or well into your career, whether you’re looking to go back to school full-time, part-time, or just looking for a little adventure. Being America’s Environmental College means opening our doors to everyone, and sharing our passion for sustainability, environmentalism and the great state of Maine to people of all ages and backgrounds. Every summer, when traditional students head home or off to internships, Unity College’s events team knows their work is just getting started. Instead of allowing campus resources — a beautiful, centralized location within the state of Maine, capable staff and faculty, sustainable housing, classrooms and dining facilities — to go to waste, summer programs invite a larger Unity community to experience environmental education firsthand. Educational summer camps finished their fourth year this past season, with Environmental Science Camp, Marine Biology Camp, Young Actors Camp 28
and Warden Camp bringing nearly 50 children between the ages of 11 to 19 on campus to experience a variety of educational initiatives. Campers went stream wading to collect and analyze water, learned to snorkel, grew coral, gained search and rescue skills, and mastered how to tell their own stories with emotion and drive. This summer the events team is adding two exciting new options: Wizarding Adventure Camp and Zombie Survival Camp, where students will learn how to care for “magical” creatures and train in basic wilderness survival, respectively.
on the college’s high ropes course and rock wall. From reunions to retreats, conferences to weddings, Unity College is a great environmentally conscience event venue.
Campers and travelers alike are welcome to stay in the college’s newest sustainable residence halls, constructed to meet LEED Silver standards with the latest energy-efficient air source heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling, and furnished by a sustainable manufacturer, limiting the environmental impact of a stay in Maine. The campus is surrounded by beautiful natural resources: mountains, woodlands, rolling fields, rivers, streams, ponds and lakes — including our own Lake Winnecook.
This upcoming summer, Unity College will highlight an appreciation of Maine’s diverse and spectacular environmental gifts with its first series of Eco Tours, using the campus as home base to explore places such as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the Penobscot River, and Monhegan Island. Enjoy freshly made Amish donuts, learn to fly fish, and hike, bike and paddle the wonders of Maine. Group sizes are kept small, with all travel, food and accommodation provided in one flat fee.
Summer programs is prepared to bring groups of up to 150 people on campus, offering meeting spaces of varying sizes; a creative, eco-friendly catering service; a performing arts center with 200 seat theater; and even team-building activities
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
“We held a three-day retreat at Unity College and had the most amazing experience,” Katrina Ruffner, Director of Education for the Maine Association of Nonprofits, said. “Unity staff were responsive, accommodating, and incredibly friendly. The meeting spaces, accommodations, and food were exemplary. We can’t wait to host another event at Unity!”
No matter your age or purpose, there’s something for everyone at America’s Environmental College.
summer.unity.edu retreats.unity.edu
Professor Emma Perry shows Marine Biology campers how to weed the coral in the CJ and Rick O’Connor and Clifford Family Coral Wet Lab.
Unity College is an environmentally conscious event venue, featuring sustainable dining, catering, and lodging. U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
29
Cpl. Merrifield sits along Reddington Stream with K-9 Piper after a follow-up search for lost hiker Geraldine Largay.
ALUMNa Profile
Cpl. Michelle Merrifield (‘93) MAINE GAME WARDEN SERVICE K-9 TEAM LEADER
Michelle Merrifield (‘93) couldn’t get into her truck. The dog she’d just picked up from the Maine State Police, Pistol, was barking and snarling at the driver’s side window, letting her know with no uncertainty how he felt about Michelle joining him inside. It took a bit of goading to get her to open the door and jump inside — and a ball dangling on the passenger side window to distract Pistol long enough to let her in. “His nose went directly in my ear. He was growling, sniffing. 30
I was so afraid of him that when I got home, I put him in his crate and right into the garage. I thought he’d eat me while I was sleeping,” she said with a laugh. Cpl. Michelle Merrifield of the Maine Warden Service now leads the service’s K-9 program, overseeing eight dog teams positioned all over the state. But as a fresh Unity College graduate and Warden recruit in Aroostook County, her dog handling days were just beginning. “He spent the whole night crying and howling in the garage. I felt so
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
bad, he slept on the bed every night after. He turned out to be such a snuggle bug.” The beauty and quiet of Aroostook county was more than enough to keep Michelle in Maine after graduation, but it wasn’t long on the job that she realized her limitations when tracking local poachers. She’d find moose dead along the side of the woods roads with no witnesses and no evidence. Her metal detector “just wasn’t cutting it” and she could only
think of one tool that could: a dog. “It ticked me off to be at a crime scene and leave empty handed. I wanted every advantage to find what I was looking for,” she said. “As things evolved, I started seeing the other benefits of a working dog, especially when looking for people. But that didn’t happen until later in life. I eventually learned there’s nothing more rewarding than bringing someone home.” Michelle didn’t exactly ask permission to have a dog — which is also a bit ironic, considering her current position as a K-9 trainer overseeing the Warden Service K-9 Team. She just called up the State Police to inquire about a dog and then drove down to get him. But Michelle explained that the warden service didn’t have a lot of dog handlers at the time and may have been glad to have a recruit with obvious, dedicated interest. That said, she may have been the last one to “get away with” joining that way. Michelle knew she’d found her calling when her dog work with Pistol really began. Just like she’d known Maine was her place, her home, when she first came to Unity College. The other school’s she’d visited had been large and intimidating, where she felt she would be “just a number.” At Unity she immediately knew that wouldn’t be an issue, that she’d always have the access she needed to her professors and the one-on-one attention that helped her thrive. She did cross country, falling even more in love with the state with every place she visited and ran. David Knupp and Deb Sugerman
were two of her favorite instructors, and she credits Knupp with being “instrumental” in her education encompassing
“The biggest advantage I have now is that I understand differences in belief, and I would not have had that opportunity anywhere but Unity College.” pieces not offered by traditional universities. She can remember going to his house to meet his wife and eat pizza with other students, chuckling, “That’s kind of bizarre, though, right? You probably don’t do that at other universities.” Unity College was exactly what she needed, though: a safe community to learn and grow within. And the diversity of opinion on campus taught her some of the most important lessons of her career. “When I’m dealing with a complaint, there are two opposing perspectives, and there’s not always a right and a wrong way of looking at things. I have to be open minded and hear what they both have to say,” Michelle said. “The biggest advantage I have now is that I understand those differences in belief, and I would not have had that opportunity anywhere but
Unity College. I got to know the spectrum of students, understand their perspectives, and learn to respect them, whether I agreed or disagreed. Unity College helped me be a mediator.” Taking those Unity lessons as a strong foundation, Michelle has learned a lot over the course of her career, working with Pistol, a Belgian Shepherd who showed her the ropes, and then an “astounding” Dutch Shepherd named Dutchess who Michelle said she “lost count of how many people she found.” And now with Piper, another Dutch Shepherd, whose skills Michelle said she’s learned to amplify by “putting her in a position to be more successful.” “You can work a dog or you can work with a dog. If you look the scene over for clues, or think to yourself, ‘Where would scent be in this environment?’ and start the dog there, that’s huge,” she said. “The more calls you go on the more you learn. I’ve finally learned how to help my dog be the most successful they can be.” Between dog training, patrolling, and searching for people, Michelle finds the time to give back some of that knowledge, that passion, to Unity College students and Warden Camp participants. She figures it’s the least she can do, especially now that she lives on the Midcoast. “I’m proud that I’m a Unity graduate. I get so much reward out of where I am today, and Unity College played a big part in that,” she said. “I got what I needed. Obviously — it’s worked for the last 24 years.”
A YEAR of FIRSTS
Unity College Graduates First Master’s Students
Erica R. Horne
With the introduction of the Distance Education program, Unity College has experienced a lot of firsts in the past year: the first graduate degree ever offered at America’s Environmental College. The first degree it’s ever offered completely online. The first fulltime faculty member on staff strictly for Distance Education. And now, as the new year approaches, Unity College will soon have its first ever graduating class of master’s students.
we couldn’t be more proud.”
Seven graduates will receive Master of Science in Professional Science degrees during an upcoming December commencement after 12 months of rigorous study as fulltime distance education students. That experience has given them the training and credentials needed to advance in their career paths.
Peter Tarrant Weafer is currently located in Scituate, Mass., and sought out the master’s program to revitalize his passion for the environment and sustainable practices.
“The feedback we’re getting from students is very positive. I can’t even begin to tell you how rewarding it is to hear, unprompted, how valuable and applicable this education is for their careers,” Chief Distance Education Officer Amy Arnett said. “They’re passionate. Committed. They love Unity College for its mission — and they love being part of it. They all worked really hard to get here, and
Peter Tarrant Weafer
Graduates in the Sustainability Science track include: Brittany Iafrate of Skowhegan, Maine, works at Johnny’s Selected Seeds. She plans to seek out a career as a sustainability coordinator.
Graduates in the Sustainable Natural Resource Management track include: Erica R. Horne of Farmington, N.H., works with the Cooperative Extension at University of New Hampshire. She wants to look for jobs as a volunteer coordinator. Merrill C. Maben is currently located in Alaska for a year-long AmeriCorps program mentoring at-risk teenagers. Ultimately she wants to pursue a career in wildlife
biology and enroll in a doctoral program to become a university professor. Amy Lynne Soper of Livermore, Maine, works as an Education Technician at Livermore Elementary School. She is passionate about the environment and wants to work in natural resource management. Zach Pesch of Broomfield, Colo., plans to pursue a field research job in the spring, and is hoping to focus on small mountain owl species. After gaining more work experience, he will either search for a position in natural resource management or consider a doctoral program studying wildlife-crossing structures. Paul J. Miller of North Bridgton, Maine, works as a Biologist at Loon Echo Land Trust and hopes
Paul J. Miller
to continue working in the conservation field. “I really enjoyed being part of the first cohort to have gone through this. Attending was a bit of a spur of the moment decision for me, and I’m super proud,” soon-to-be graduate Brittany Iafrate said. “I really valued being able to work at the same time I was doing my course load. I’ve laid down roots, started getting involved in the community here, and I didn’t want to put that on hold to go somewhere else. Sustainable living is becoming increasingly important, it’s going to be even more essential in the future.” Iafrate focused her Sustainability Science thesis project on six “grab-and-go” learning modules focused on sustainability topics that include a one hour course with a presentation, a follow-up assignment and a reading list. The courses will be uploaded to an open source educational resource website
Zach Pesch
Brittany Iafrate
so that anyone can download the modules for free. She was driven by the belief that anyone interested in learning more about sustainability should have reliable sources of information to depend on instead of whatever they can find on the internet sharing the wealth of her own education at Unity. “This graduation isn’t just a milestone for these students — it’s a milestone for Unity College,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “We’ve taken our sustainability science mission to a broader audience: adult learners, professionals, who can now take that knowledge and make an immediate difference in our world. More and more people are looking for this kind of education, and we are here in the thick of things. These are exciting times at Unity.”
Merrill C. Maben
Amy Lynne Soper
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
33
Intelligence, an aerial systems company that provides high resolution imaging, integrated mapping, and unmanned aerial surveys. After 15 years as a Wildlife Biologist for Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, he saw an opportunity to apply his skills in a private environment. He had done a lot of manned aircraft surveys in his previous professions and thought “if we could fly slow and lower we could do better imagery.” He was right.
ALUMNUS Profile
Merlin Benner ‘87
W I L D L I F E B I O L O G I S T. OW N E R , W I L D L I F E SPECIALISTS AND REMOTE INTELLIGENCE. EVEN AS THE CHILL O F A L AT E W I N T E R ’ S NIGHT CREEPED I N TO H I S JACK E T, T H E R E S U LT O F A N INTERMITTENT BREEZE ALONG A SNOWSTREWN FIELD, MERLIN B E N N E R , ‘ 8 7, K N E W H E WAS RIGHT WHERE HE BELONGED.
The muffled crunch of hoof on snow in the distance greeted his ears, as a white-tailed deer made its way across Unity College campus. He was tracking them for a school research project with Professor Terry Bowyer, testing whether white-tailed deer in Maine used particular woody species for rubbing, and comparing the 34
physical characteristics of plants they rubbed with those available. Their research was published in the Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 69, Issue 3, on August 30, 1988 — and Merlin’s name appeared first. “My education was very focused on what Unity does well: environmental science. It was a good atmosphere to really learn in a practical way. To get experience in my field,” Merlin said. “There was a real, genuine care for conservation at Unity. Not just to benefit wildlife, but to benefit people.” Nowadays, Merlin runs his own businesses: Wildlife Specialists, a natural resource consulting company, and Remote
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
Merlin said he runs into other Unity alumni constantly in the wildlife field — even in Pennsylvania. A lot of the ones he has met are working as environmental biologists at places like engineering companies, or consulting. For such a small school, Unity has had a big impact on his networking. People recognize the college name. Before packing his bags and moving from his hometown in rural Northern Pennsylvania to the college, Merlin had never stepped foot on campus. He heard about Unity through his high school guidance counselor, who represented the school as having an incredibly strong wildlife program. After he applied, Merlin received a full tuition scholarship for all four years, and his fate was sealed. Luckily, his guidance counselor had prepared him for the small campus, rural community and attendance of roughly 300 similarly-minded students. “You got to know everyone,” he said. “It was nice. It wasn’t crowded at all. Very small class sizes. You got to learn a lot.” “I’m content with my life and Unity was a big part of it. I’m glad for it.”
its study of the military use of marine mammals. The Marine Mammal Program trains animals to perform tasks such as ship and harbor protection, mine detection and clearance, and equipment recovery. And while Adlesperger’s new job specifics are classified, her feeling of fulfillment is absolute.
ALUMNa Profile
Renee Adlesperger ‘16 MARINE BIOLOGIST
THE CAMPUS WAS Q U I E T, A N D T H E H OT S U M M E R A I R L AY L I K E A BLANKET OVER UNITY COLLEGE WHEN RENEE ADLESPERGER FIRST LAID HER EYES O N I T.
The cheerful voice of the tour guide filled the silence as they made their way from building to building, mapping out the small, walkable community. “I remember showing up and thinking: this is it. This is the place where I need to be,” Adlesperger, a native Texan, said of the Maine campus. “It was just in the way the college was set up, and how it was being talked about. Even though it’s a very different culture - climate! - it all felt so familiar to me. It was home.”
From learning to canoe, to helping shelter dogs become more adoptable through basic training, to her time interning with marine mammals in Alaska and Mississippi, every day as a Unity College student was an adventure waiting to be had. Eventually her experiences brought her to Sea World San Antonio post-graduation, where she worked primarily with beluga whales. Adlesperger said that being able to care for the animals there, and really involve herself in the public education at the heart of their mission, was pretty much a childhood dream come true. Recently she’s moved on to start work in Washington state at the Science Applications International Corporation, where her primary focus is on the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, known for
“I can’t imagine being where I am today without having gone to Unity College. Not just because of my time in the classroom, but the relationships I formed outside,” Adlesperger said. “Unity College is not a short term relationship. It’s something that will last me a lifetime. My life started at Unity, and I can’t be grateful enough for my experiences there.” Throughout her time at Unity, as Adlesperger got to know her classmates and professors, the college began to feel like “a big family.” She enjoyed learning from professionals that “have actually been in the field,” and “aren’t just regurgitating something they learned from a book.” Hands-on activities filled her class schedule, and often brought her out into the larger community of Waldo County and Maine as a whole. She felt prepared entering her field, and looks forward to applying her skills in her new role. “Not only is the college campus a family and a community, but the way the classes function, and the message they’re teaching, really involves us. It makes you feel you’re there to be a part of something bigger,” she said. “And you get this experience where you don’t just know it in your head — you know it in your hands.”
UNITY MAGAZINE UNITY IN THE NEWS
Unity’s newest star, Koda the Hedgehog, joined other furred friends in the Animal Room, where students collect systematic behavioral data, develop forms of animal stimulus and enrichment, collect specimens for research purposes, learn proper grooming and handling, prepare educational presentations, and more.
Unity College wins grand prize in 2017 NACUFS Sustainability Awards
Colleges, and their students, must adapt to a rapidly changing world
Unity inthe News unity.edu/news “In a world of rising costs, changing student bodies, parttime faculty and global ‘weirding,’ some institutions are making an admirable commitment to practice and teach environmental sustainability: Unity College included.” Marina Schauffler, Portland Press Herald 10/8/17
In recognition of “outstanding leadership in the promotion and implementation of environmental sustainability,” Unity College has taken home the overall grand prize in the National Association of College and University Food Services Sustainability Awards this year, a stand-out among larger schools for a recent restructure within the dining and sustainability offices.
Warden Camp students learn techinques for capturing fish. 36
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
UNITY IN THE NEWS UNITY MAGAZINE
Love of the Maine woods brings national recognition to student bibliophile
Alex Koch (‘19) bested students from Harvard and UCLA with his project. The collection draws on a wide range of sources to tell an important story about the history of the Maine Woods.
Alex Koch (‘19) can’t exactly pinpoint the moment that his love for the written word evolved into book collecting — when avid reading evolved into bibliophilism — but it all came to a head when he took first place in this year’s National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest for his submission “The Breath and Breadth of the Maine Woods.” A true labor of love, the collection reflects years of picking through barn sales, bookstores and yard sales, with a wide reflection of written paraphernalia beyond books, including field guides, maps, advertisements, postcards, and even axe labels, with many dating back to the mid-19th to 20th century. Contest judges considered “how collections may help preserve material that could otherwise be lost or forgotten” with evaluations made on entrants’ “understanding of their collections’ subjects... and their knowledge and appreciation of the items in their collections both for content and as objects of craft.” The age, rarity and uniqueness of the items in each submitted collection were assessed independently of monetary value — which for Koch is good, because while he thinks “rarity is certainly important, the most important part to me is the words.”
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
37
UNITY MAGAZINE UNITY IN THE NEWS
Holli Costedio is helping to found new business models.
New Chief Business Officer Holli Costedio aims to break the mold In keeping with President Melik Peter Khoury’s vision and Unity College’s distinctive Leadership in Abundance approach, Holli Costedio’s focus so far has been to work alongside the president and leadership team towards new business models and joint ventures that will reduce tuition dependency and diversify the school’s revenue portfolio. These new potential ventures, referred to as Strategic Education Business Units (SEBUs), will open doors for students, staff, and faculty alike, allowing more real-world experiences within the college safety net and learning network while also helping hold tuition increases in check.
Helping working professionals learn how to save the world
Increasing fulltime faculty by over 16 percent in last five years
With two new certifications from Unity College, professionals looking to blend sustainability solutions into their current career paths and Environmental Scientists interested in expanding their skills with geographic information sciences have the opportunity to advance in their fields without committing themselves to the full monetary and time investments of a master’s degree. The new certificate programs offer a shortterm education option for working professionals, boosting resumes and enhancing available skill sets for those interested in sustainability or environmental sciences. School officials understand that many working adults are overwhelmed by the financial and time commitments associated with an online degree — and that the fear of starting and not finishing a program can deter students from even applying in the first place. Unity’s certificate programs cut that commitment in half.
At the start of classes in September, nine new faculty faces greeted students in a variety of departments on campus, from conservation law enforcement, to writing, to captive wildlife care and education. Throughout its steady advancement in size from 578 students in 2011 to 712 students in 2017, Unity College has maintained a student-faculty ratio between 13-to-1 and 15-to-1. Students continue to benefit from a small community feel, passionate, dedicated faculty and staff who encourage a high degree of student involvement, and an individualized, supportive, and hands-on learning experience as faculty numbers increased from 36 in 2013 to 42 at the start of this school year.
UNITY IN THE NEWS UNITY MAGAZINE
GIVE
donate online
donate by phone
donate by mail
Go to : www.unity.edu/give
Call the Development Office at 207-509-7145
Use the enclosed return envelope.
Your support creates scholarships that give students access to an experiential education at Unity College.
Your support ensures that our world will have optimistic, educated individuals committed to solving the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
Your support helps fund student research experiences in the field and in the lab.
BE THE SOLUTION
Captive Wildlife goes global with new international faculty
Ms. Pratibha ‘Poly’ Singh advises a student on how to present a snake. 40
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
Captive Wildlife Care and Education at Unity College provides integrative, hands-on training and experience, preparing students to become expert wildlife rehabilitators, educators, conservationists, and advocates. As part of the program, students have the opportunity to work with organizations across the globe, and work closely with species they’re likely to encounter in careers after graduation — gaining valuable realworld experience.
of Sydney, Australia. He specializes as a wildlife veterinarian with a range of field, research, and teaching experience related to captive and free-ranging wildlife, and has spent a number of years consulting on animal health management for some of the nation’s finest zoos and aquaria.
Two new faces joined the program this year, bringing international experience from different corners of the globe, and strengthening an already flourishing major at America’s Environmental College.
Ms. Pratibha ‘Poly’ Singh, Visiting Instructor of Captive Wildlife Care and Education, has over ten years of experience working in the field of conservation biology, and holds a B.S. and M.S. in Botany from Delhi University, a M.S. in Forestry from the Indian Institute of Management,
“Faculty serve as important role models to students, and it is only through exposure to a diversity of thought, cultures and backgrounds that Dr. Tristan Burgess reviews techniques for tranquilizing our graduates can be wild animals. fully prepared for an increasingly global society,” Unity College President Dr. and a Master of Public Management Melik Peter Khoury said. “From India from Carnegie Mellon. In her career to Florida, Australia to California, and she has worked within zookeeping in all the way back to Maine, faculty North India, Nepal, and Bhutan, as experience from across the world and well as numerous other management our nation is of inestimable worth to positions with the government of this institution and our students.” India. She most recently comes to Unity College from the Zoo Dr. Tristan Burgess, Assistant Technology Program at Santa Fe Professor of Captive Wildlife Care College in Florida. and Education, holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University “I know it sounds corny, but I came of California-Davis and recently to Unity because I really love the completed a postdoctoral research mission here. The environmental position with San Diego Zoo Global. focus, experiential education — these Additionally, he received a Bachelor students are great, and I love teaching of Veterinary Science degree from them,” Ms. Singh said. “I’ve spent a Massey University, New Zealand large portion of my career in the field, and a Bachelor of Science degree in and I’m looking forward to passing immunobiology from the University that experience on.” U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
41
Summer Camps 2018 Wizarding Adventure Camp July 16-20 || $600
Zombie Survival Camp July 16-20 || $600
Environmental Science Camp July 30 - Aug. 3 || $1,000
Marine Biology Camp July 30 - Aug. 3 || $1,100
Warden Camp July 30 - Aug. 3 || $1,200 / $850 commuter
Early Bird Special Save $50 by registering before January 15 for residential summer camps.
summer.unity.edu 42
U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
WHAT Happened to the ALumni Notes?
Alumni notes are now online! Always available for you to update your information and check out what is happening with your classmates. Go to:
unity.edu/notes U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 1 7
43
90 Quaker Hill Road Unity, Maine 04988
CJ and Rick O’Connor and Clifford Family Coral Wet Lab
Partner with America’s Environmental College today.
|
U N I T Y. E D U
|
1 . 8 0 0 . 6 2 4 .1 0 2 4