Alumni Spotlight: Kirsten Haltman

Alumni Spotlight: Kirsten Haltman

Person at a fence in front of all wetlands

What year did you graduate and with what major/minor?

2018, Marine Ecology pathway! 

What is your hometown?

Tustin, CA

Where are you now and what are you doing?

I worked for the LA Galaxy for a year as an academic mentor/tutor, and now I work for the Bolsa Chica Conservancy in Huntington Beach, CA as an education program coordinator. I run 3 out of our 6 education programs, and assist on the others when needed :) I also do some of the graphic design, and have kind of fallen into being the creator/producer/editor of a lot of our virtual content. 

What was your favorite thing about the department/USD?

Honestly, the people. The classes and labs and experiences were fantastic, obviously, but the people I encountered are the ones that made the experience really special, and I credit a lot of them (especially Dr. B, Cathcart, and Talley) for me being where I am, doing what I do, and approaching education the way I do. 

How did your degree from Environmental and Ocean Science help prepare you for what you are doing?

Well, the internship requirement certainly helped, as I interned at BCC for the internship requirement and that got my foot in the door here. But the interdisciplinary nature of the degree has given me a really great foundation that I've been able to apply to both jobs, and in all programs and classes that I've coordinated or led. 

What advice do you have for current undergraduates?

The best advice I've received is to apply for jobs/internships even if you think you're not fully qualified. In terms of advice I would give, don't be afraid to do what you love, every job in every field is just as vital as another, even if it doesn't always seem so. 

Contact:

Soroya Rowley
soroya@sandiego.edu
(619) 260-4795

Related Stories