Page 6 - Impact Fall 2024

Wyatt Gonsior, grain origination
merchant intern, Cargill
Agricultural and Food Business Management
student Wyatt Gonsior talked with farmers
to help them market their grain with Cargill.
“[We went] over things like pricing solutions
to mitigate some of the risk that comes with
marketing their grain,” he said.
“The most rewarding experience I have
gained is problem solving and how to manage
difficult conversations,” Gonsior said. “I have had many opportunities to
put these skills to use helping farmers make hard decisions that will benefit
their operations,” he said.
Lyra Grabczyk, wildlife husbandry
intern, Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary
Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation
Biology student Lyra Grabcyzk spent the
summer in Costa Rica.
“A typical day was spent working on
food prep or animal care,” Grabczyk said.
“Food prep was prepping every meal based
on the requirements of the animals and sanctuary
was cleaning the enclosures and feeding and putting in
enrichment for the animals.”
Grabczyk learned skills beyond animal care. “I feel like one
of the biggest things I learned was how to be really adaptive. Between the
weather and animals we had to be ready for anything.”
Avi Neumann, student field worker,
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
“Working for a Minnesota-based organization
has changed my perspective in that I realize
just how much the agency does for the state,”
said Avi Neumann, Environmental Sciences,
Policy and Management (ESPM) student.
Neumann’s role was to assist with fish
and invertebrate sampling and monitoring
throughout the state using electrofishing
equipment. “I chose ESPM because I wanted a major that had applicable
science. I can study ‘hard sciences’ like soil science or biology and then
apply them through policy management,” he said.
TURNING YOUR MAJOR
INTO A CAREER
A journey from CFANS to
law school
By Elena Mathern, BS ’25, Environmental
Sciences, Policy, and Management
Choosing a major is often the first step
in discovering your career path. Gaby
Gutenkauf, a CFANS alumna, found hers
in environmental law. Originally from Long
Beach, California, Gutenkauf attended
the U of M, majoring in Environmental
Sciences, Policy, and Management (ESPM)
with a focus on policy, planning, law, and
society. After graduating in 2022, she
returned to California to attend law school
at UC Davis.
While at CFANS, Gutenkauf gained
valuable work experience, including
internships in environmental consulting
and sustainability governance. A pivotal
moment in her career path came after a
conversation with a Minneapolis water
lawyer. “The things that she was doing
piqued my interest. After hearing her
experience, I could see myself doing that,”
she said.
Her ESPM capstone course, where she
presented city planning recommendations
to St. Paul officials, further reinforced
her passion for impactful environmental
work. She also engaged in the CFANS
Policy Engagement Program and served
as president of the UMN Environmental
Student Association.
Now a second-year law student,
Gutenkauf serves as Co-Chair of the
Environmental Law Society and works as a
law clerk. She credits CFANS for giving her
a competitive edge. “My boss mentioned
that I had an advantage over other
candidates because of my background in
environmental science and policy,” she said.
Gutenkauf’s journey highlights how
an ESPM degree can lead to a career in
environmental law, where she hopes to
advocate for environmental justice and
create meaningful change.
Experiential summer internships
By Louisa Smith, BS ʼ25, Agricultural Communication and Marketing
This past summer, several CFANS students participated in
experiential internships that bridged the gap between theory and
practice, gaining invaluable skills that will shape their future careers.