Amanda Cross, Ph.D. 2012
We recently interviewed EES alumni and external faculty member, Dr. Amanda Cross. She teaches EES 397/590 – Professional Development for Conservation Practitioners. She is currently working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Here’s what she had to say!
What is your field of study?
“I studied sustainable agriculture for my undergraduate and graduate degrees and spent time between degrees working in marine ecology and environmental education. When I started my Ph.D., I finally had the chance to pursue something I was passionate about since childhood – amphibian ecology. Now, I am more of an ecological generalist with a lot of focus on the human dimensions of conservation.”
What brought you into academia?
“I have always been curious about the interconnectedness of ecosystems and how science informs decision-making. I never saw myself getting a Ph.D., but as I went on in my career, I realized how important science is to shaping policies and management decisions.”
Why UMaine?
“UMaine provides world class education in one of the most beautiful places in the Northeast. I wanted to be in a place where I could work with some of the best ecological minds while being able to walk out my door and see the very systems I was studying on a daily basis. UMaine is also a leader in applied research. It was important to me that my work be useful to the people making decisions on the ground.”
What advice do you have for people looking to get into research?
“Pursue what gives you meaning and inspires you to keep asking ‘why’. Whatever you do, try to find how your work connects to or informs decision making. If you are not sure, talk to resource managers, practitioners, regulators, etc. Ask them what they need to know to make their decisions. Also, spend time learning how to communicate the importance of your work to various audiences. How I describe amphibian migrations to an elementary school group is very different than I would to a transportation engineer.”