Shortly after graduating from 香蕉视频 in 2000 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology and speech communication, Charlotte (Higgins) Westing loaded her belongings in a U-Haul and headed north to start work on her master鈥檚 degree at Alaska Pacific University.
Charlotte鈥檚 thesis focused on wetland restoration from off-road vehicle damage. She graduated in 2002 with her master鈥檚 degree in environmental science. Her first job was with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in the Commercial Fisheries Division as the Assistant Area Manager for Western Bristol Bay.
In 2008, Charlotte accepted a position as the Assistant Area Manager based in Kotzebue in northwest Alaska. The following summer, she was promoted to area biologist and is responsible for managing all non-caribou species the state manages, including sheep, bears and moose.
鈥淢y office manages the Western Arctic Caribou herd, which numbers more than 350,000 animals,” she said.
She鈥檚 often required to give presentations to Alaska鈥檚 Board of Game, a politically appointed group that makes decisions about wildlife management in the state.
鈥淭hese presentations have made me really appreciate my speech communication degree and my experiences with the forensics team at 香蕉视频,鈥 Charlotte said.
The real advantage of attending 香蕉视频, for Charlotte, was the opportunity to pursue two very different majors, biology and speech communication.
鈥淚 obviously use my biology skills every day, but a large part of what I do involves communicating with the public and my peers,鈥 Charlotte said.
Charlotte, an HC Who鈥檚 Who winner, said most of her favorite memories from 香蕉视频 involve being on the cross country team, the forensics team, a PHIVE-O member and an RA in Taylor Hall.
Her husband, Lance, is a 2000 MAT graduate. He was a Bronc Hall RA and co-captain of the cross country team. He teaches high school science and coaches basketball and cross country.
鈥淥ne favorite HC memory of mine is getting up in the morning to meet my boyfriend for a run and realizing I was falling in love. It鈥檚 corny, but true,鈥 Charlotte said. 鈥淚 wonder how many other couples shared their first kiss on the steps of Taylor Hall.鈥