NRES alumni find home, inspiration in the College of ACES
Each fall, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign welcomes thousands of students to campus. But when Reneé and John Miller transferred to Illinois in 1989, they joined a cohort of 11 students who would usher in a new era of environmental education as the first to receive Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences degrees at the university.
“Environmental science was always something that interested me, and the more opportunities that I had to be outside or see different environments, the more I gravitated towards it altogether. So when Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences became a degree at the U. of I., it became the sole reason I decided to transfer from my original university. The University of Illinois transformed into one of the few places where students curious about the environment could study just that. It’s a program we’re still grateful for today, and one that has provided us so many opportunities,” Reneé said.
As national headlines in the late 1980s and early 1990s began turning their attention to organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency and policies such as the Clean Water Act, Reneé and John were inspired to learn more about environmental work and how they could make a difference.
Although the Millers received Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences degrees in 1993 and 1994, it was in 1992 that the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences was established, a melding of the forestry and soil science programs in the College of ACES, then the College of Agriculture. During a recent campus visit from their home in Colorado, Renee and John discovered just how much the College of ACES and NRES continues to transform the lives of students who are passionate about the environment.
“To see our field of study as a full-on department with a whole building dedicated to it was so exciting for us. It’s changed so much — succeeded and flourished beyond what we started,” John said. “It’s amazing just how diverse the faculty and student body are now. I would love to go and sit in on a class just to see the differences in the classroom, too. When we get the College of ACES newsletters, we’re always amazed to see just how ACES continues to expand as a college and program. It's just astonishing how much everything has grown.”
After graduating, both continued into NRES-related fields. Reneé's first career involved working as an environmental scientist at Resource Applications, while John began as a supervisor and field service chemist at ENSCO, Inc., a few years later. Now, Reneé is currently the Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President of Freberg Environmental Insurance, and John is the co-owner and project manager of Colorado Solar.
John credits NRES as a great foundation for exploring multiple career opportunities.
“The program exposes you to many different areas of science and policy that are relevant to numerous interesting careers,” he said. “After graduating from NRES, I have enjoyed being part of urban forestry projects, hazardous waste management, information technology/security, and, most recently, working in the residential and commercial solar industry. I look back very fondly at our time in NRES!”
Reneé added, “If the NRES path is your interest, continue on, especially now, with so many new opportunities becoming available to students passionate about the environment. There are so many different aspects, pathways, and worlds that come along with an NRES degree, and they will continue to be applicable for years to come. It’s a great opportunity, especially at ACES.”
John and Reneé’s work has taken them on a journey that has impacted the environment for the better. And as they continue to dedicate themselves to the world that they love, they hope the College of ACES will continue to inspire future NRES students, too.
“I would encourage students to branch out and discover what they love about their degree and future careers, meet new people, embrace what makes them different and unique, and never give up on their dreams,” John said. “ACES is just the place to do all that.