Current Position: Marine Educator at the University of Southern Mississippi Marine Education Center
We moved to Mississippi because my husband got a graduate assistantship at the University of Southern Mississippi. Admittedly I was a bit nervous that I would not find a suitable job. After all, there are no mountains to hike on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I was fortunate enough to meet the program coordinator of the Marine Education Center and learned that there were numerous experiential education opportunities on the coast. Thanks to my Messiah College training and experiences, I was able to land a job as a Marine Educator. Though there still aren’t any mountains, there are bayous to paddle, barrier islands to explore and children to teach.
One of the benefits of working as a marine educator is no two days are the same. One day I might spend time kayaking in the bayou while the next day I am exploring the Mississippi barrier islands with a school group. Some of my favorite days include catching and tagging sharks for research, taking students to the beach and leading summer camp activities.
My primary responsibilities include planning, organizing and implementing marine centered educational programs. More specifically, I write curriculum, maintain equipment, teach at local schools, participate in outreach events and lead summer camps.
You might wonder how being an Adventure Education major in central Pennsylvania prepared me for a job on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Well, that’s the beauty of Messiah College and the Adventure Education major. As an Adventure Education major, you gain numerous practical skills and valuable leadership experience that equips you to fulfill your vocation regardless of the location.
Take the plunge. Adventure Education is a diverse field and the training you receive at Messiah College will open up many opportunities for you to impact the lives of others in a very meaningful (and really fun) way. Be sure to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you and be willing to take some risks along the way. Who knows, you may find yourself in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico showing kids how to catch and tag sharks!