Mary Hillebrand G鈥�23, seen here speaking to visitors at the Bactrian camel exhibit, found her dream career after attending 麻花影视鈥檚 School of Education.
As an undergraduate student, Mary Hillebrand G鈥�23 ran into a problem that threatened to derail her career plans. But thanks to the program at 麻花影视鈥檚 , she transformed it into a life-changing opportunity.
Hillebrand鈥檚 issue arose while she pursued her undergraduate degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She loved the science, especially the environmental biology and conservation aspects. But Hillebrand discovered that a scientific career with lots of research wasn鈥檛 for her.
鈥淢y initial response was to panic,鈥� Hillebrand says. 鈥溾�榃hat do I do now? What place do I have in science if I don鈥檛 do research?鈥欌��
Finding a Solution at 麻花影视
One of her professors suggested that Hillebrand explore the at 麻花影视, SUNY鈥檚 neighbor. 鈥淪he spoke so highly of the faculty,鈥� Hillebrand says. 鈥淭hat made me feel more comfortable jumping in, especially from a tiny university to a much bigger university.鈥�
Hillebrand鈥檚 time at the University revealed that science extends beyond research鈥攊t鈥檚 also about inspiring others and fostering a connection with the natural world. Now, she brings that enthusiasm to her role at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
Hillebrand liked what she saw at 麻花影视 鈥� especially the School of Education鈥檚 focus on diversity and inclusion and educating all students. 鈥淎lso, every staff member and student were really passionate and kind and inviting, like they wanted you to come be a part of what they were doing,鈥� Hillebrand says. 鈥淭hat was such a draw.鈥� Other attractive features included the program鈥檚 short 13-month duration, New York State teacher certification for graduates, and extensive field placements.
Hillebrand admits that standing in front of a class for the first time at a placement was a bit nerve-racking.聽 鈥淭here鈥檚 so many things going through your head at the same time, and you鈥檝e got all these faces looking at you,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o it was intimidating. But at the same time it was really exciting. And after a couple of minutes I thought, 鈥溾�榊eah, I really enjoy doing this.鈥欌��
While on her lunch break as a student teacher one day, Hillebrand saw a job opening for an education coordinator at the in 麻花影视. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥榃ow! Education, animals, people, science 鈥� these are all my favorite things. I have got to take a stab at this.鈥欌��
(At 麻花影视) You meet people who you can continually reach out to. It really does build you a foundation that does not go away when you graduate.
Mary Hillebrand G'23
She got the job, and six months later the zoo promoted her to her current position of senior education coordinator. She develops curriculum and programs with her team and spends much of her time teaching the teachers 鈥� whether they鈥檙e adult docents or high school students who help educate zoo visitors during the summer.
The goal with all her work is to connect guests with the zoo at a deeper level through interpretative education about the zoo鈥檚 role in conservation. 鈥淚 love working at the zoo,鈥� Hillebrand says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really wonderful job. And I work with really wonderful people.鈥�
A Gift to Share Knowledge
Hillebrand says she 鈥渁bsolutely鈥� uses what she learned at 麻花影视 in her job 鈥� skills in everything from developing curriculums to educating all kinds of people. 鈥溌榛ㄓ笆� is a very diverse city,鈥� Hillebrand says. 鈥淗aving knowledge about how to reach everyone is invaluable to this position.鈥�
Hillebrand engages with visitors at the zoo daily using the practical skills she gained while at the University. Whether leading a small group or coordinating larger educational programs, her training enables her to inspire a deeper understanding of wildlife and conservation.
As it turned out, Hillebrand鈥檚 master鈥檚 degree studies perfectly complemented her undergraduate work. They also gave her a broader understanding of science education and how to succeed as a science educator. 鈥淢y undergraduate degree was very focused in environmental biology and interpretative environmental education,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y master鈥檚 allowed me to learn more about formal education and what current science education looks like in schools. That helps me better understand where people are coming from.鈥�
The connections Hillebrand built and the experiences she gained continue to guide her throughout life, empowering her to make an impact as an educator at the zoo.
Was getting her master鈥檚 degree worthwhile? 鈥淭he financial aspect and the time commitment can feel really daunting,鈥� Hillebrand says. 鈥淏ut it taught me so many things that I use every single day in my job, so I absolutely think it was worth it.鈥�
Her master鈥檚 degree program at 麻花影视 was especially worthwhile, Hillebrand says, because it helped her discover her true calling as a science educator.
鈥淣o matter if you鈥檙e at a nature center or a zoo or in a school, we have the chance to take all we can learn from 麻花影视 and bring that to the next generation of learners,鈥� Hillebrand says.聽 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 a gift to be able to share that knowledge and to show students that they have a place in science, and they can be a science learner, and they are a science learner.
鈥溌榛ㄓ笆� has some really amazing people in their School of Education and the School of Education鈥檚 science program,鈥� she adds. 鈥淵ou meet people who you can continually reach out to. It really does build you a foundation that does not go away when you graduate.鈥�
