Welcome aboard- Jordan Bracy

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Jordan Bracy is one of our Youth Conservation Interns working as a Range Technician Assistant in cooperation with the BLM at the Aqua Fria National Monument out of the Hassayampa Field Office.
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Jordan was born in Safford, Arizona and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated at Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2020 earning his Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Anthropology. He has an interest in both indoor and outdoor activities. For his preferred indoor activities, he enjoys watching shows, putting together puzzles, and bonding with family. His favorite outdoor activities include going on walks either in the city or on trails, going fishing, and recently he has decided to take up gardening. Jordan think STEM education is important because teaching people of all ages the importance of different sciences allows for an inter-disciplined population that both respects and desires to participate in STEM-based activities. Welcome to the team Jordan!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I had been doing some job searching for some time on different websites. I wanted something that fit me. I wanted something research and team based as that is what I enjoy doing the most. When I had seen the internship posting online by GEM Environmental, I knew this was the place for me!
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
I don’t have a lot of experience in one particular area as of yet as my undergraduate degree was focused mainly on the broad spectrum of environmental science ranging anywhere from environmental policy, to ecology. However, this has allowed me to see the many different areas that I could focus on in the future as I continue to learn more about the field by participating in opportunities such as the one provided by GEM Environmental. One particular route that has interested me, is the path toward becoming an Environmental Manager.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
During my time with GEM Environmental, I expect to gain a greater understanding of conservation efforts in a professional setting. I want to gain as much knowledge and experience as I can by working alongside both professionals and other interns who also have knowledge that I may not. I also want to help this organization grow and participate in tangible projects to better aid conservation efforts.

What are your career goals?
I know that I want to pursue a career that will hold high importance to environmental work. A career in which I can feel accomplished and satisfied to finally reach. Although I’m not completely sure what that career might entail, I have been considering an early position as an Environmental Specialist and a later position after I finish my Master’s Degree as an Environmental Manager.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
After gaining some experience in the real world, I will go back to school to complete my Master’s Degree in Environmental Management to become and Environmental Manager. I want to take on one of the highest roles to be given to someone in the environmental field so I can feel like the work that I’m doing is for the betterment of the environment. For me, when I think of the best place to make the greatest impact for environmentalism, I think of large corporations that withhold some of the most power and wealth in the world. Being able to change the course of their actions to meet environmental regulations will allow for more sustainable options to be used. Starting with one corporation and continuing to the next, I will be able to make a real difference in the world. I don’t want to lose the beautiful environment that we live in, so I will strive for excellence in my life to do my part.
 
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
I have done two separate internships as an undergraduate student before partaking in this one. My first internship experience was a partnership between NAU and nonprofit organization Flagstaff Foodlink to create a map of the fruit trees in Flagstaff to decrease food waste and increase equity. This was done under Graduate Assistant Kira Farmer and 6 undergraduate students including myself. We created a website that people could easily access from Flagstaff Foodlink’s homepage that includes all of the work that we had down throughout the internship experience. This included the research we had done, a graphic to help people with apple identification, and the map itself. The second internship that I was apart of included 4 undergraduate students including myself working under the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. This internship was dedicated to understanding citizen science projects happening in other places of the world as well as citizen science projects currently happening in Flagstaff. The point of doing this was to create a proposal for organizations currently doing citizen science projects in Flagstaff to aid them in other directions they may take to initiate successful projects and to get more people involved in their projects as well. Doing so much environmental research alongside others has allowed for me become comfortable working alongside different organizations as well as cultivating deep connections with those around me to create palpable results that benefit people and the environment.

Anything else you'd like to share about your work, yourself, or the STEM fields?
I’m a driven individual who just wants to do good for the environment while also building relationships along the way!

Check out Jordan's first internship group's website:  
https://flagstafflinkgleaninginitiative.food.blog/