EENR Alumni - Where Are They Now?
Andrew Mazza: Environmental Specialist at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Name
Andrew Mazza
What is your graduation year?
2020
What degrees did you compete? Please include if completed a second major, minor, or certificates!
EENR
What is your current job title and organization?
Environmental Specialist 1 in the Bureau of Freshwater Wetlands & Highlands Permitting at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
Briefly describe your primary responsibilities in this role.
Reviewing property surveys from applicants showing freshwater wetland boundaries and verifying the boundaries in the field. Reviewing proposed development plans to see if applicants are compliant with the various rules of the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act of NJ and Flood Hazard Area Control Act of NJ.
What skills or experiences from the EENR program have been most valuable in your career?
Everything about the Wetland Ecology course is the reason I have my current job at NJDEP.
My internship in Dr. Maslo's lab where I helped restore a floodplain in my hometown of Woodbridge Township was also a valuable experience.
In addition, all the wildlife focused courses I took during my time in EENR were very valuable to me as I always had passion for wildlife and still do.
What is one memorable experience from your time in the EENR program?
I loved spending spring break in the Adirondacks with Dr. Lathrop during Winter Field Ecology, working on the EcoPreserve for Principles of Natural Resource Management, and of course that one time my laptop crashed during class and the individual who helped me out became a good friend of mine.
What advice do you have for EENR students as they prepare for their careers?
Don't be discouraged if you get rejected or don't hear back from certain jobs or opportunities that you would prefer. Keep building up your experience however you can (volunteer work, smaller positions, etc.). All the while, keep trying to apply for positions you desire. In addition, really build your network and make as many connections as you can. And maintain as many of those connections as you can.
Please provide a short description of the photos provided.
Me holding a large carp caught via seining night when I volunteered in the American Shad and River Herring tagging project for the Marine Science department.
Me in the top of the observation tower at the peak of Mount Goodnow during Winter Field Ecology 2020.
All photos courtesy of Andrew Mazza.