Mary Heather Noble earned her BS in Geology from SES in 1996 and is now self-employed as an environmental writer.
Contact: mhnaturewords@gmail.com, www.maryheathernoble.com
"Be open-minded about the big-picture utility of your non-science courses. I am a writer now and find myself drawing from the knowledge I developed during my humanities classes at OSU. You never know which direction your career and life will take you."
Where has your degree taken you?
After graduating with my geology degree from OSU, I attended graduate school at the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences & Foresty and earned a master’s degree in environmental science. I worked for the USDA Forest Service for a few years, supporting their urban forest research research unit in Syracuse, New York, and then accepted a regulatory position with the New Mexico Environment Department’s Ground Water Quality Bureau. My work with NMED focused on pollution prevention — our office regulated all types of wastewater discharges, and issued permits to ensure that industrial, agricultural, domestic, and mining wastewater discharges were conducted in a manner that was protective of ground water resources. I then relocated to Connecticut and worked for the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection’s Remediation Section. This work involved the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites under various state and federal programs. I did this for several years before relocating again and taking time off to raise my family. During that time, I reconnected with my lifelong interest in writing and eventually returned to graduate school to earn a master of fine arts in creative writing. Now I am a freelance writer and creative writing instructor. My work is also inspired by the environmental issues I encountered during my former career as an environmental regulator, though I also write about the natural world, family, and place.
How do you feel your experience, specifically as an SES/geology student at OSU, prepared you for your career or life in general?
My geology degree and time at OSU gave me the technical background needed to understand and effectively communicate the science behind environmental issues, particularly those related to the legacy of industrial contamination. One of my favorite classes at OSU was Hydrogeology with Scott Bair — that’s when I knew I wanted to do something related to environmental geology. The other thing that I loved about geology was the inherent interdisciplinary nature of the field — to be successful in geology requires an understanding of physics, chemistry, and biology — all of which really prepares you for the interdisciplinary nature of working in the environmental sciences.
What is your favorite memory as a student?
OSU Field Camp in Utah — all of it. Such an amazing gift to have this experience as a required part of the curriculum.
What advice do you have for current and future students?
Be open-minded about the big-picture utility of your non-science courses. I am a writer now and find myself drawing from the knowledge I developed during my humanities classes at OSU. You never know which direction your career and life will take you.