Beginning in Fall 2026, the Environmental Studies program will host a biennial alumni event where graduates return to campus to:

  • Share how they use environmental, geographic, and geospatial skills in their careers.
  • Connect with current students to discuss internships, jobs, and graduate school.
  • Help strengthen an internship pipeline with agencies, nonprofits, and private sector partners across Billings and eastern Montana.
  • Contribute to an ongoing Alumni Stories & Adventures space, where graduates can share brief updates, photos from the field, and advice for current students.

These alumni gatherings, combined with internships and project based courses, give students concrete examples of life after graduation and help build the professional networks that support meaningful careers in environmental and geospatial fields. A dedicated alumni and internships page will grow over time into a one-stop hub for students and partners interested in recruiting, mentoring, or collaborating with our graduates, and will include a running gallery where alumni can post photos and short reflections from their work and travels.

Contact elizabeth.nelson11@MSUBillings.edu for more information on how to sponsor, recruit, participate in our alumni event, or submit an alumni story and photo.

Lak Kloker, Class of 2024 鈥� From Fairview, Montana

Growing up in Fairview, Montana鈥攔ight on the Montana鈥揘orth Dakota border鈥攕parked Lak's interest in the outdoors early on. That love for wide-open spaces and natural resources led him to the Environmental Studies program at MSU Billings. I was drawn to how the program connects classroom learning with real-world applications, particularly through fieldwork and hands-on research. My favorite experience was my senior capstone project, where I collected geographical data points to identify dense populations of the invasive Salt Cedar shrub (Tamarix ramosissima) in northeastern Montana. Seeing the data I gathered in the field come to life through mapping in ArcGIS was incredibly rewarding and one of the highlights of my time at MSUB.

Since graduating in Fall 2024, I鈥檝e joined Bison Engineering in Billings, an environmental engineering firm specializing in air quality and emissions testing. My work allows me to apply many of the environmental policies and regulations I studied at MSUB to real testing and evaluation projects across the region. I鈥檓 continually learning and excited to see how my background in environmental studies will keep supporting my career growth. The combination of field experience, geospatial analysis, and policy understanding from MSUB has provided a strong foundation for building a meaningful career in environmental protection and resource management.

Brent B., Class of 2025 鈥� From Meridian, Idaho

Brent chose the GIS鈥慺ocused path in Environmental Studies to combine time outdoors with building strong geospatial skills he could use every day on the job. Through GIS labs, a summer internship, and presenting a poster at the MAGIP conference, he saw how classroom tools translate into real鈥憌orld projects and got feedback from professionals using GIS across different industries. Today, Brent works as a land surveyor, where he draws directly on MSUB鈥檚 GIS courses to read topographic maps, interpret plans, and apply geospatial technology in the field.

James S., Class of 2026 鈥� Billings, Montana

James combined Environmental Studies with a focus on GIS and spatial analysis, tailoring his coursework toward applied mapping and environmental data work. Before graduating, he secured a paid internship where he built real鈥憌orld maps and datasets for a regional partner, gaining hands鈥憃n experience with the tools he loved. That internship opened the door to his dream job, and James moved straight into a full鈥憈ime GIS position after graduation, where he now uses geospatial tools every day to support environmental decision鈥憁aking.

James was initially drawn to the Environmental Studies major at MSU Billings because he wanted a clear pathway to a meaningful career in Montana鈥檚 rapidly evolving environmental sector. Growing up here, he saw how often environmental issues shaped conversations in the state and recognized that building strong analytical and technical skills would position him to stay and work in the place he calls home. The program鈥檚 blend of environmental science, policy, and geospatial training made it a natural fit for both his interests and his long鈥憈erm goal of contributing to Montana communities.

Among his experiences in the program, James鈥檚 internship stands out as especially impactful. The engineering firm where he interned鈥攁nd was later hired full time鈥攑rimarily serves Indian Reservations across Montana, and as a member of the Crow Tribe he felt a deep sense of pride contributing to projects designed to improve conditions in Indian Country. Working for a Native鈥慺ounded company that centers Indigenous communities reinforced his commitment to using GIS as a tool for equity and infrastructure improvement, while also giving him a concrete sense of how classroom skills translate into professional practice.

Today, James finds that the GIS foundation he built at MSU Billings continues to shape his daily work and future aspirations. He uses his mapping and spatial analysis skills to support environmental planning and decision鈥憁aking, and he appreciates how flexible GIS is as a tool that can be applied to everything from infrastructure projects to community鈥慴ased research鈥攈e truly feels 鈥渢he sky is the limit鈥� with where GIS can take him. James also continues to collaborate with Dr. Nelson and Dr. Akanga, including on the map displayed below, which depicts immigrant population by arrondissement and district in the Paris metropolitan area and is slated for publication in a leading geography journal.

map depicting immigrant population by arrondissement and district in the Paris metropolitan area