Haub School Alumni Highlights

February, 2024

Ruby Jenco (she/her)

Haub School Outstanding Undergraduate Spring 2023

Degree: Environment & Natural Resources (ENR), and Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Management, with minors in Honors, French, and Outdoor Leadership, 2023

Hometown: St. Joseph, MO

 

What position are you currently in?

“I am currently a field instructor at Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming. I do a lot of place-based education with students of all ages from around the country and globe, taking them out into nature and Grand Teton National Park, specifically to teach them about our world and how we fit into it.”

 

How did you find this position?

“I applied to a ton of jobs related to place-based education and outdoor education, including a lot of national park jobs and nonprofit jobs. I originally learned about Teton Science Schools when I took the Winter Ecology course with the Haub School back in January 2022, which sparked my interest. I saw that they were hiring some field educators with a really cool living opportunity in Jackson, it's kind of hard to live there. I applied, interviewed, got the job, and moved out here in June of 2023 after graduation.”

 

In what ways did the Haub School prepare you for this career?

“I had a lot of guidance from my advisor, Maggie Bourque. I expressed my interest in education and curriculum building related to Environment and Natural Resources. She was able to help me grow my interest a little bit more. She basically took me under her wing. I did a lot of curriculum building with first-year programs specifically, which helped prepare me. Maggie guided me and pushed me to become the educator that I am today.”

 

What were some of the most memorable experiences being a Haubie?

“Two parts to this answer, one of them being the field and international courses that I took. Traveling and studying in Chile was impactful to experience a completely different culture, but still within the lens of Environment and Natural Resources. Their conservation efforts are really amazing and thought-provoking. I had never done anything like that before. 

The second part of that answer to the question is the community within the Haub School, whether that be the friends and mentors that I met along the way, or community events that bring you closer to other folks who are super passionate about the environment and our place within it. It’s super inspiring going to those events, whether that be film festivals, panel discussions, or just vibing and doing tie-dye, whatever it is.”

 

 

Did you have any mentors or advisors at the university who played a significant role in guiding your career path?

“Maggie Bourque, who we touched on. She's definitely a very encouraging person who knows the right steps for you to take with what you want to do with your career. I would also say Steve Smutko. He is a very kind and gentle soul, who believed in me even though I didn't have many of his classes, I miss him!”

 

Describe the transition from being a student to becoming an alumni  of the Haub school, how has your relationship with the school changed?

“It's been a very quick turnaround. I threw myself into it really, I don't know if there was necessarily any strategy behind it. I think just being very passionate and excited about the work that you do and what you're going to be doing makes the transition easier. I also found asking lots of questions was super helpful, and trying to balance out my professional time with my personal time to take care of myself.”

 

 

 

What advice would you give to a current student or recent graduate?

“There are a lot of friendly, helpful faces at the Haub School who want to see you succeed. If you reach out, talk to someone about your interests or your passions, and what you want to pursue, then there is bound to be someone who is ready and willing to help foster those passions and make them into something great.”

 

What professional and applied experiences did you have during your undergrad?

“Being a learning assistant on campus to help create curriculum, and teach curriculum, topics, and content. All of the different roles I had with Maggie I house under being a learning assistant. I was an office aid at the Haub School front desk to help gain office experience. I worked in a grad student lab, extracting DNA from Moose feces to gain some wildlife biology lab experience. Other than that, I was heavily involved in clubs. I was president of the Wildlife Society on campus and a very active member of the Sustainability Coalition.” 

 

“I’m a Haubie because I want to educate others about the outdoors and our place in it and take the first steps towards real change.”

 

Ruby's story has been edited for length and clarity. All image credits go to Ruby.