New SAFS MS student named Outstanding Graduate of Western Washington’s Marine and Coastal Sciences program
Named as the first Outstanding Graduate of Western Washington University’s Marine and Coastal Sciences program, Amirah Casey has recently joined the Applied Ecology Lab as an MS student, advised by Mark Scheuerell. Amirah shared with us what brought her to SAFS, plus what she is most excited about in this next step in her academic journey.
Throughout my undergraduate career I had received many encouragements that I should attend graduate school. After my experience with my marine science education internship, peer mentor position with the Marine and Coastal Sciences program (MACS) at Western Washington University (WWU), TA and research experience, I felt that I was ready for graduate school and knew what it entailed. I began doing research and reaching out to people at different institutions.
While doing so, I was encouraged by people from these institutions to apply anywhere and everywhere as they felt I would make a competitive candidate. The professor at WWU whom I worked most closely with, Dr. Jim Cooper, encouraged me to apply to UW SAFS as it is a world renowned program and would provide many opportunities for me. He also offered me a position as his graduate student. Once my mom passed away, I decided that I needed to attend grad school in Washington so that I could be near my family and take care of some things that were needed after she had passed. That left me the decision between UW and WWU, the same decision I faced when choosing where to go for my undergrad degree.
I reached out to Dr. Mark Scheuerell as I felt that our research interests aligned well. We had a meeting and found that it would be a good fit as an advisor-grad student pairing. He invited me to prospective student days and upon my visit I met Mark’s other grad students, attended a lab meeting, toured the facilities, and met other advisors in the program. I was blown away by the kindness I was shown and impressed with the program. Mark and I then had a meeting with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) ecotoxicology group to discuss the possibility of a collaboration on a research project. This meeting got me very excited about future opportunities in SAFS as well as with WDFW.
After further conversations with Mark and with Dr. Cooper who encouraged me to take the position with SAFS as it would be a better fit for me and provide more opportunities, I made my decision. Since starting at SAFS I have been inspired every day by the faculty and other graduate students, and I look forward to what lies ahead.
