Alumni Success Stories

Environmental Sciences major turned national hydrologic technician

Colleen Ritter earned her degree in Environmental Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. She completed an intensive summer internship on the B4WarmED climate research project, followed by an independent thesis presented at national conferences. That hands-on experience helped launch her career with the National Park Service and later the U.S. Geological Survey, where she supports streamflow and groundwater monitoring in California.

Rider’s Environmental Sciences program set the stage for advanced research

With a major in Environmental Sciences and minor in Chemistry, C. Opal Moore built a foundation in field and lab work that prepared her for graduate-level research at Ohio State University. Rider’s tight-knit academic community and personalized support helped her grow as both a scientist and scholar, shaping her path toward environmental leadership.

Environmental Sciences graduate supporting open space preservation

Gabriella Banyacski focused on Environmental Sciences at Rider and developed key skills through fieldwork and ecological research. She went on to apply her training as a Land Steward with the Mercer County Park Commission, managing natural lands and ensuring long-term ecological health across public spaces.

Environmental Science graduate translating research into environmental solutions

Dan Hewins transferred into Rider and immediately found his footing in small classes and actively engaged faculty. He received a Merck/AAA research grant scholarship to carry out an 18-month project studying the relationship between nitrogen and the invasive garlic mustard. His findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Biological Invasions, with Dan as the first author. He presented at the Botanical Society of America conference in Chicago and later earned his Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at New Mexico State University.

Research-driven learning shaped a career beneath the surface

While pursuing Marine Sciences at Rider, Julie joined faculty-led research under Dr. Paul Jivoff, performing lab dissections and protocol development before gaining field research experience through a funded summer grant. She also volunteered at Adventure Aquarium, honing her public engagement skills. That combination made her stand out during an application for a marine mammal internship at Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends, where she worked with manatees and bottlenose dolphins including feeding, training, and assisting in research presentations.

Chemistry major gained a graduate-level edge as an undergraduate

Lauren Musumeci took full advantage of Rider’s research opportunities in chemistry. Conducting independent projects with faculty support gave her valuable lab experience and set her apart in graduate school and beyond, demonstrating how early scientific exploration builds momentum. A summer internship at ConAgra Foods’ analytical chemistry and microbiology labs confirmed her passion for food science and validated her preparation. After graduation, she was accepted into graduate programs at Cornell, Penn State, and Rutgers.

Geosciences major graduated early and launched a public-sector career

Muhammad Y. Sarwar completed his Geosciences degree in just three years and stepped directly into an environmental services trainee role with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He also worked with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and later joined Golder Associates as a geologist. His Rider experience included fieldwork, research presentations, and lab skills that translated directly into his career.

Field experiences led to a clear path in environmental studies

Jessica Munyan discovered her passion for environmental science through outdoor research and real-world applications. Her hands-on experiences at Rider included dendrochronology — drilling tree cores to study age and climate history — and fieldwork in places like Poplar Forest. That foundation led her to graduate study at the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, where she served as a fully funded teaching and research assistant studying atmospheric chemistry and pollutant-biosphere interactions. She also presented her findings at a national conference.

A Rider education that sparked both curiosity and direction

Jonathan Tyson majored in Biochemistry and credits Rider with helping him identify both his scientific interests and long-term goals. Jonathan switched to Biochemistry early in his first year and dove into research, spending three years working with Dr. Danielle Jacobs in natural product synthesis aimed at targeting cancer cells. He also collaborated with four other professors, took on leadership roles — including president of the ACS Student Affiliates branch — and taught as a supplemental instructor and tutor. As a McNair Scholar, he received support for graduate applications and was accepted into doctoral programs at Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Emory, Johns Hopkins, and MIT. He later applied that strong foundation as a postdoctoral scientist at Stanford University.

From REU volcanology internships to Galapagos field studies and campus leadership

Imani Guest majored in Geosciences (with a philosophy minor) and was selected from among 500 applicants for a highly competitive REU internship in volcanology at the University of Hawaii, working with a top volcanologist — an opportunity she returned to as a research assistant. On campus, she served as a lab assistant, tutor, and Admissions tour guide while contributing to research on topics like garnet geochemistry and climate history. She also participated in a study trip to the Galápagos Islands, examining tourism’s environmental impacts, and conducted tree-ring research extending climate records by centuries.