Featured Graduate Student, September 2008
Jeremy Wimpey

Interview:

What is your primary motivation for persevering through graduate school?
My primary motivation comes from being able to work in a very applied field that I am passionate about. Working with my peers, advisers and interfacing with land managers is very rewarding.

Which field are you most happy that you did not enter?
I will have to go with Political Science or maybe Architecture - both involve too much paperboard!

What is your favorite stress-reduction technique?
Getting out in the woods for a day doing some activity that is mentally and physically demanding.

What is the last book you read strictly for pleasure and how long ago was it?
Hunter S. Thompson's Screwjack. I read it on a flight to Denali National Park this past summer.

What are your aspirations upon graduation?
I would like to work with land managers, advocacy groups, and recreational user groups to enhance recreational experiences on public and private lands through better management techniques.

Describe your favorite childhood toy and what age you were when it first charmed you.
My Bicycle. I learned to ride without training wheels when I was three. Second favorite toy was a screwdriver, some wires and a power outlet.

How do you find balance between work, play, and your other non-academic responsibilities?
I think of it like this: You've got a lot of fun things to do in life (including graduate school) you've only really got the first part of your life to squeeze in all the physically demanding activities. Let's call that your first 45-50 years. When you are old you can write, sleep and talk people to sleep (i.e. become a professor). I balance my activities by working hard at whatever I am doing and keeping amazingly concise to-do lists. It is difficult sometimes but having a variety of activities and responsibilities really forces me to stay focused and motivated. If I didn't have fun non-school pursuits I think I would not be a very productive or engaged student.

If travel to Mars happens in your lifetime, would you want to be one of the scientists on board? If yes, what would you contribute to the mission?
Yes! I'd bring some tools to build some trail and a bike to ride them with.

What is your favorite comfort food and why? How often do you consume it?
I really enjoy mashed potatoes with loads of garlic. I don't eat them too often. Second choice would be anything from a BBQ Grill, I eat that at least once a week.

If you hadn't been admitted to graduate school, what do you think you would be doing right now?
Building trails and riding bikes.

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Currently enrolled VT graduate students can be nominated for a variety of reasons -- academic or personal accomplishments, service to the department or the university community, or any other reason that makes them a unique and valuable member of academe. Students, faculty, or staff can submit nominations by completing a short nomination form.