UW Student from Douglas Explores Ecology from Wyoming to the Canary Islands

Beth Loveless grew up in Douglas, surrounded by family and the Wyoming outdoors that would eventually shape her career path. Now studying environment and natural resources and environmental systems science at the University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, she's discovering ecological connections across the globe.

The highlight of her time in the program? Traveling to the Canary Islands with Haub School Associate Professor Jake Hochard.

"It was an amazing opportunity to learn about the ecology of the island; how different it is. But, also, we were able to see connections to the ecology of Wyoming," Loveless says.

That hands-on learning experience exemplifies what Loveless values most about the Haub School.

"The professors and the staff are very nice and welcoming," she says. "I also like the content of our Haub classes. It's very applicable to real life. I enjoy being able to apply our studies to my hobbies or things that I do in my daily life."

Loveless is particularly interested in pursuing career opportunities with the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service, as well as ecological research positions in Wyoming.

"I'm really interested in ecology so, any research position that's studying ecology around Wyoming, I'm super interested in their work," she says.

Beyond coursework, Loveless takes pride in sharing what she has learned with others.

"Something I am really proud of is taking what we've learned in class and discussing it with people outside of the classroom," she says. "Topics regarding the environment are so important, especially since Wyoming is such an outdoor recreation-focused state. I like being able to discuss topics that are potentially talked about daily, but some people may miss the complexity or opposing perspectives like we learn in the Haub School."

Three Decades of Impact

UW's Haub School prepares the next generation of natural resource professionals while serving Wyoming's wild and working lands and communities. With 1,275 alumni (1996-2025), many working across the state in government, private industry, nonprofits and education, the school offers six undergraduate and seven graduate programs integrating science, policy, law, economics and community engagement.

The school brings about $2 million annually in research funding to Wyoming while supporting communities through four dedicated centers and institutes. Recent milestones include a $5 million gift from Jay and Karen Kemmerer in 2025 to establish the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute, supporting the state's second-largest industry.

Haub School programs, including the Wyoming Conservation Corps, have trained more than 150 young adults and veterans since 2021, while the Biodiversity Institute connects people of all ages to Wyoming's wildlife through 40-plus annual programs reaching over 3,500 participants statewide. The school's Ruckelshaus Institute facilitates collaborative, long-term solutions to natural resource challenges, offers professional workforce development, and publishes the award-winning Western Confluence magazine, reaching nearly 4,000 readers across the state. Learn more at https://www.uwyo.edu/haub.

Additionally, the Haub School's Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program -- established in 2021 through a major gift from UW alumni Carol and Ramon Tomé -- provides exceptional students with full-ride, four-year scholarships and experiential learning opportunities to address complex environmental challenges. Recent expanded support from the Tomé Foundation has doubled the number of scholars on campus. Learn more at https://www.uwyo.edu/haub/academics/academic-advising/tome-scholars-to-fellows.html.