Graduating senior finds inspiration in community, making the world a better place

When Environmental Geography major Dylan Zintz first arrived at CWU, he was pretty sure he was going to study Spanish.

After discovering the field of geography through one of his breadth requirement classes, he knew his career was heading in a completely different direction.

“Coming to college was definitely an adjustment, but a few quarters in, when I found geography and environmental sciences, something just clicked for me,” said Zintz, who grew up in Kelso. “Everything started to make sense, and I found myself excited to go to class, just to keep learning.”

Within the study of the physical features of the earth, Zintz found connection with his own lifelong passion for embodying the change he wants to see in the world.

“I’ve always had an interest in our world, especially with climate change and finding ways to have a healthy environment and build resiliency in our landscape” he said. “I feel inspired by the environmental sciences to go out and have that sort of impact.”

To this altruistic end, Zintz picked up a minor in sustainability, which helped him discover more depth than might be obvious to the casual observer.

“The thing about sustainability is that it’s not just about the environmental side of things,” he said. “It’s about making sure everyone’s needs are met, socially, economically, and environmentally. It’s not about destroying industry to save the planet, but rather how we can work with both industry and the environment towards a better kind of balance.”

Zintz’s hands-on experiences in his sustainability minor spurred him to deeper involvement on campus, thanks to the community service built into the curriculum.

“The classes in Sustainability give you the opportunity to develop a project and then implement that project right here on campus,” he said. “For mine, I was able to do a waste audit at my job in Catering, and I would say that work was what allowed me to really step out of my shell here on campus and pushed me to be more active in the community.”

Combined with his leadership experience as a student manager with 1891 Catering, Zintz’s CWU education has set him up for a career in regional planning, something he knows he has the skills to tackle.

“I want to use my geography degree to better understand an area, then bring in my experience in environmental science and sustainability,” he said. “That way, I can make it better for nature and for humans, more livable, and strengthen the community in the process.”

After graduation, Zizntz will roll right into CWU’s Cultural and Environmental Resource Management master’s program. Looking back, he feels enormous gratitude for the faculty who’ve helped him succeed every step of the way as he prepares for his impending graduation in June.

“Our faculty here are really knowledgeable about what they’re teaching, and care a lot about student success and job placement,” Zintz said. “I’m really grateful for the connections I’ve made with my professors, too. The small class sizes and one-on-one support is not something I’d be willing to trade away by going to a different school.”