Spotlight on Environmental Biology Graduate Student | Jared Tomlin

I have a B.S. in Environmental Sustainability from Shepherd University and a Graduate Certificate in GIS from Hood College. I am completing my M.S. at Hood College in Environmental Biology. I completed two summer terms at NASA DEVELOP at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and worked as a consultant for Cloud-To-Street before working the stormwater internship last summer. I specialized in using satellite imagery to detect environmental concerns (invasive grasses, rainfall, and flooding) for project partners in the National Park Service, United States Geological Survey, The World Bank, and Mercy Corp. I am a husband and father of three. Before pursuing science, I was a web developer in California.

The Stormwater Coordinator works as part of the Stormwater Team that falls under the Public Works department in the City. The majority of the City lies within the Tuscarora watershed that drains into the Opequon Creek, a major tributary of the Potomac River. The City holds a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer permit, meaning they must show that they are meeting the minimum requirements for reducing pollutants in storm runoff.

Martinsburg is a city of just over 17,000 people and is the one of two West Virginia MS4s that contribute to the Chesapeake Bay. My role is to coordinate the efforts necessary to meet the permit requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. My job requires that I work within the team, interdepartmentally, and with outside agencies to develop programs that mitigate flooding and runoff.

There was a great deal of luck involved for sure. I took the internship with the knowledge that it was not meant to lead to full-time work. Summer is the busy season for stormwater so my co-intern and I had to spend much of the time working independently. We used that opportunity to create solutions and methods for the many different processes involved with stormwater infrastructure mapping. We also went the extra mile to be sure to include ourselves in everything the stormwater department was up to.

We were given the opportunity to present our work to members of the City’s leadership which exposed GIS to different departments and at the area’s GIS user group meeting, giving our work even more visibility.  A mixture of these elements prompted the City Council to create a new position in the City for a GIS Analyst to work with stormwater and utilities. The coordinator that hired me moved on to a city manager job elsewhere in the state, and I was able to secure my current position as the new coordinator.

Do not get discouraged. I came to the table with over a decade of professional IT experience, a degree, and a graduate certificate, and I still had to get my foot in the door through internships and consulting. Even then there was a great deal of “right place right time.” The key is to continue to grow your network and resume, so you look attractive to employers when you do find yourself in that position. The one skill that is a requirement when working in the environmental field is outstanding communication, both personal and public speaking. Public outreach and education are integral in all environmental endeavors. One-on-one and team communication are essential to any hopes of collaboration.

The Biology professors. I went into graduate school ready to immerse myself in scientific knowledge, and they were always there to challenge me to dig a little deeper. My favorite experiences at Hood College were the soil health and tree identification labs when we spent time in the field. Being outdoors reminds me of why I decided to work protecting our natural resources.

I am a husband and father of three. I’ve played in bands my whole life. I’ve been a raft guide and swift water rescue instructor since moving to WV from CA.

Inspired by Jared's story to #GOFURTHER in your education and career? Learn more about Hood College's M.S. in Environmental Biology and Certificate in Geographic Information Systems by clicking here.