What inspired you to attend PVCC?
After graduating from high school in 2016, I knew I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to study. I was able to earn the Presidential Honors Scholarship, so I got my Associate’s degree without any debt! Funnily enough, I attended preschool at PVCC while my Mom got her degree in Early Childhood Development at PVCC in the early 2000s. So I was familiar with the campus my entire life.
What was your major or focus of study at PVCC? And what year did you graduate?
I did change majors a few times, but I ultimately got an AA with a focus in Sustainability and Geography in 2018.
What were one or two of the most memorable aspects of your student experience at PVCC?
My favorite part of the student experience at PVCC was being a part of the Honors Program. I was also chosen to be a Student Honors Advisory Council leader from 2017-2018. We hosted retreats and meetings throughout the school year. We did events like bowling, trampolining, zip lining, and rock climbing. At the end of the school year, I gave the convocation speech to the Honors graduating class.
My second favorite event was the Star Parties hosted by the Astronomy professor. I was able to see many planets like Mars and Saturn in a telescope for the first time.
How would you describe PVCC to others? Would you recommend PVCC and why?
PVCC is a school that deeply cares for its students. The class sizes are small and intimate. The professors take the time to get to know you and support you in any way they can. There is a lot of flexibility with work/life/school balance. Your fellow students work hard because they are most likely paying for themselves to be there.
What piece of advice would you give to PVCC students?
Join a club or organization that interests you. It’s a great way to make friends. Getting to know your professor will help you to better understand the course content and make the class more enjoyable. They want to help if you are struggling.
Tell us about your journey after leaving PVCC…
After PVCC, I transferred to ASU. I completed 1 semester in Tempe and switched to ASU Online when I moved to Texas. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Sustainability with a focus in Energy, Materials, and Technology in 2020. I took a year off work when my daughter was born in 2021. Now, I am the Energy Analyst on the Corporate Sustainability team at U-Haul International. I have been here for about 2 years. I give internal grants funds to U-Haul Self Storage buildings to improve their energy efficiency, track utility data to report to municipalities nationwide, negotiate fixed energy and natural gas rates, and install EV charging stations.
How would you advise students on how to choose their educational or career path?
Take classes on topics you are interested in to decide if you would want to continue learning about that as a career. Look up jobs in your desired field to see if the job description is something you would enjoy doing everyday and if the salary aligns with your goals. Then work backwards to see what kind of degree or certifications you need to get.
In your career journey, what has been one of your greatest successes and one of your greatest challenges?
In my current role, I had 2 managers leave soon after I started. It was difficult to have many different managerial changes in a short amount of time.
Last year, I was selected to be on a team for young professionals called Emerging Sustainability Leaders with the organization, Arizona Forward. Each month, we toured different cities and businesses to learn about their sustainable processes and practices.
How did your experiences at PVCC either directly or indirectly impact the work that you do?
My professors at PVCC inspired me to step into leadership positions and to follow my interest in physical sciences. I greatly appreciate the mentorship I received from Caron Sada, Doug Berry, Jenny Weitz, and John Douglass.