Blinn College District alumna Hannah Davis, 23, has always felt most comfortable in a pair of muddy boots and jeans. Splitting her childhood between a cattle ranch in the small East Texas town of Elkhart and her grandparents’ home in Alamogordo, N.M., she not only gained a love of the outdoors, but also developed an appreciation for the dynamic differences between the two landscapes she calls home.
“The terrain of an East Texas cattle ranch is very different from the desert climate and geology of New Mexico,” Davis said. “Being outdoors is my essence and both of these environments played a role in my interest in studying geomorphology.”
Currently a geography major at Texas A&M University slated to graduate in August 2020, Davis cites Blinn and its faculty for helping her channel her love of nature into a rewarding field that enables her to pursue her passion. After exploring geology and environmental science as two potential majors, Davis discovered geography and realized it could combine her desire for fieldwork with innovative technology to make an impact on preserving wildlife and water resources.
“Growing up on ranches, I have always been very conservation-oriented,” Davis said. “When I found geography, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I want to help bring sustainable and renewable water to both agriculture and urban living.”
Energetic and driven, Davis was not always confident she would achieve academic success. When she first arrived at Blinn, she struggled to keep up with her classes while maintaining a full-time job and adjusting to being away from home for the first time.
“I was ready to quit and leave, but my professors were very compassionate and believed in me,” Davis said. “Blinn gave me the building blocks and foundation for my success at A&M and got me ready for all the challenges and incredibly intense work I encountered after transferring.”
Davis has used these tools to flourish during her time at the Texas A&M University College of Geosciences. She is currently assisting one of her professor’s research by analyzing data related to tree canopy heating and cooling levels within urban landscapes. Davis plans to use this experience to further her knowledge and interest in urban greenspaces. When she is not pouring over mapping software, Davis can be found competing for Texas A&M’s Pistol Team, with hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.
Both nervous and excited for her next chapter, Davis would love to travel to Japan and South Korea to immerse herself in these cultures while learning about their geography. She also is considering a master’s degree in water management or applied geography and is interested in one day working for an organization like Texas Parks and Wildlife. Whatever adventures await, Davis feels confident she is prepared to meet them head on.
“Because of Blinn and my professors, I’m ready for anything that comes my way,” said Davis. “The path that Blinn set me on is going to allow me to have fun at my career and make money doing it, which is all I could ever ask for.”
Geography is a highly interdisciplinary field that prepares students for careers in the private and public sectors related to natural resources, spatial analysis, and social services. Blinn’s program utilizes the latest modeling techniques available in the field of geographic information systems.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national demand for geographers is expected to grow 3% between 2018 and 2028, with a median income of $80,300.
To learn more about Blinn’s geography program visit www.blinn.edu/geography.
For enrollment or financial aid information, visit www.blinn.edu/admissions.
