I spent the summer of 2008 in Barrow, Alaska, with frequent trips to the village of Atqasuk. I was one member of a four person team from GVSU in Grand Rapids, MI. We studied the effects of climate change on tundra vegetation and generally had a splendid time. So splendid, in fact, that one member in particular did not want to leave!

Currently I am in my final year of my undergraduate degree and I am teacher assisting in a 10th and 11th grade English Literature class in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I continue to work with the data from Alaska and am always happy to spend time in the lab with any of my darling teammates.

In April 2009 will graduate from GVSU with a BA in English Language and Lituerature, minors in Geography and Studio Art, and a teaching certificate. I will be surprised if I put this teaching certificate to use, but stranger things have happened. In the spring I have the opportunity to teach in Mexico for 6-8 weeks, and in the summer I have the opportunity to continue ITEX research on the island of Svalbard and to study for a year in Norway. What I will actually be doing could be either or both or neither of these things, depending on... whether or not I do them!

Jobby, Jean Marie, Papasaurus, and Jenny!