Beth Russell
The facts
Hollings internship office and topic
NOAA Boulder, Colorado, working with Science on a Sphere®
Education
- B.S. in meteorology from Penn State University
- M.E. in engineering management from University of Colorado Boulder
Current career
Operations Manager for NOAA’s Science on a Sphere
My original career plan was to be a weather forecaster, but this internship caused me to shift my focus and look for ways to incorporate education and outreach into my career plans.
What was your career path?
After graduating from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in meteorology in 2007, my internship mentor offered me a full time position working with NOAA’s Science On a Sphere, which had been the foundation of my Hollings internship. I have been with the Science On a Sphere team since then, working in various roles over the years, all the way up to leading the project.
How did Hollings impact your career path?
The Hollings internship defined my career path as I didn’t know that Science On a Sphere existed before my internship and now my entire career has been centered around it. My internship gave me the opportunity to learn about the project and NOAA in general and it gave my team the chance to see what I was capable of contributing. It also showed me that I was really passionate about informal science education and that there were great opportunities in the field, which I hadn’t realized prior to the internship. My original career plan was to be a weather forecaster, but this internship caused me to shift my focus and look for ways to incorporate education and outreach into my career plans.
What advice do you have for current and future Hollings scholars?
Stay in touch with your mentor after your internship. My mentor served as a valuable reference as I was initially searching for jobs after graduation. That continued relationship is what allowed me to learn about the job opening for Science On a Sphere when the position was created. Also, connect with your fellow scholars. Some of my best friends are people that I met during our summer together in Boulder at the NOAA lab!
