Lovisa Kunkle - NMU Blog

I decided to come to NMU because I loved the small college-town feel of Marquette, and the university's location on Lake Superior. This is a truly beautiful area. I also appreciated the diverse range of majors that NMU offered, as I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to pursue when I enrolled. 

I decided to major in ecology because I think that the way natural systems interact with each other is really important, especially when considering how natural systems and farms can exist harmoniously with one another. I chose my EEGS cluster minor so that I could learn how to communicate with the public about environmental topics. 

Right now I am helping out in the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science lab here on campus. We are looking at bear fecal samples from a park in Alaska to determine if tourism is stressing out the bears!

On-campus I am a co-leader of the NMU Hoop House community garden, and in the past I was also a Community Advisor and involved in NMU Conservation Crew. The NMU Hoop House has been a remarkably rewarding experience; I've learned so much about growing food, composting, soil fertility, and working with others to reach a common goal!!

After graduation, I would like to spend some time WWOOFing (volunteering on organic farms) as I gain a broader understanding of what my next step is. Eventually, I would like to start a teaching farm in Alaska, but in the meantime, I am considering veterinarian school overseas, or getting my teaching certification to teach agriscience to high school students. There is so much I would like to do!

Get involved in a student group right away! It will give you something to do on the weekends and a pool of potential friends who are all interested in the same things you are. Keep your mind open to the opportunities brought your way, but also don't be afraid to seek them out!

It has been the people that I have met and the connections that I have made that have made my Northern experience unforgettable ❤