Connecting Utah students to public lands careers

In partnership with Southern Utah University’s (SUU) Geosciences Department and other local agencies, the Bureau of Land Management attended a career exploration event for students interested in geoscience-related fields. Stephanie DeGraffenried, geologist with the BLM Utah Fillmore Field Office, participated in the event to inform students of BLM career opportunities as well as public lands rockhounding regulations. The event showcased how careers like Stephanie’s contribute to recreation, management, and protection of public lands. 

The SUU geoscience career opportunities  night brought together professionals from private companies, federal agencies, Utah State agencies, and various science-related fields. The event opened with introductions and a brief discussion about their career from each representative. Afterward, students participated in rotating small-group sessions, where they could ask questions and learn more about the career paths they were interested in.  

For Stephanie, this event holds special significance. As an SUU alum, she values the chance to give back and provide students with insights into geology and public land management.  

“SUU is a place that has impacted me so much, to be able to share with students the many opportunities that they can have is such a wonderful thing,” said DeGraffenried. “When I worked on the private mining industry side, I would conduct field visits with SUU students and loved to share the knowledge I had gained after college. Now, I love to share more of my knowledge about the public lands and the opportunities that BLM has given me. I hope to give students more ideas on what they can achieve after college.” 

Her continued involvement highlights the BLM’s efforts to strengthen community ties and create relationships that support future generations of land stewards.