Mary Polk

Watersheds Coordinator at the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District

 Apply for grants and conduct projects that improve and protect the water quality of waterbodies in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. My job includes everything from researching and water sampling, to communicating with the public and creating connections.

My professors encouraged me to look beyond the surface. Part of my job requires a lot of problem solving, researching, and drawing connections. The NMU EEGS Department pushed me to look at the interconnectedness of things, ask questions, and consider the minor details. Additionally, my degree involved a lot of different topics which helped me learn a little about a lot of things. It was nice to have introductions to topics I might not have otherwise considered if they weren't required classes.

There is something to be learned from every experience and interaction. Lean into your passions, but also delve deeper into the things that are difficult to learn at first.
 

Through this job, I have been introduced to real world situations of the consequences of human actions. I've been very interested and involved in septic issues, shoreline (re)naturalization, the power of native plants, and responsible agricultural land management. In my spare time, I kayak, hike, and ski.