Latysha Pankratz ‘12 chose to attend the University of Minnesota Morris after a visit to campus. She recalls how open and inviting it was and thinking the class sizes were perfect. Pankratz majored in geology at UMN Morris and is currently a supervisor for the Petroleum Tank Cleanup Section at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. She previously worked in this section as an environmental scientist regulating the investigation, cleanup, and closure of petroleum releases across the state of Montana.
“I somewhat stumbled into this career path as I was looking for opportunities to utilize my geology degree,” she says. “I had no idea … that I would fall in love with environmental remediation and pursue it as a life-long career.”
While pursuing her degree at UMN Morris, Pankratz says Professor Keith Brugger helped guide her into the right science and math courses for a geology major, while allowing room for her to complete a research project.
The project was a worthwhile experience for Pankratz, who says being able to do research as an undergraduate student prepared her for her career as an environmental scientist. And the guidance she received from professors during her time as a student proved to be more valuable than she realized at the time.
“I distinctly remember a conversation with Professor [James] Cotter where I was complaining about having to take liberal arts classes when I wanted to be a scientist, and he [explained] the benefits, but I don't think I really got it at the time,” says Pankratz. “I realized later in my career … there is incredible value in a liberal arts education.”
It was the liberal arts influence at UMN Morris that she now says, “has definitely helped me succeed as a program supervisor.” And thinking back more broadly, she acknowledges that that influence opened her up to new possibilities.
“When you are open-minded and flexible it allows space for possibilities to present themselves, possibilities you might not have known existed that can take you amazing places in life and in your career,” says Pankratz.
According to Pankratz, UMN Morris provided her with “a solid foundation for life-long success.” She appreciates the strong technical skills she acquired and the experiential learning opportunities she had as a student.
Two particular opportunities were significant for her. One was a study abroad trip to Austria with Professor Cotter and a small group of students to study in the Italian Alps, and the other was a research project studying mass wasting of a glacier in Sweden that included a multiple-week trip to Sweden.
“[That] was probably the most unique opportunity that I had at UMN Morris.”
These and many other things about UMN Morris stand out for Pankratz, but what she liked most was the faculty and staff.
“I always felt like everyone was genuinely invested in my success as a student … and I think that culture fosters student success,” says Pankratz. “I always felt I had the resources and support I needed and it kept me going as a student.”