Another semester is nearing its conclusion and with it comes a new batch of graduates beaming with excitement for their accomplishments and eagerness for life’s next steps. Across seven areas within Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, the department is set to celebrate 145 graduates on Friday, Dec. 15th. For the most up-to-date information on 2023 Commencement Celebrations, visit the University’s Commencement website.
In this series, we will feature one student from each of the seven areas of HDNR. Next up is Abby Davidson from the Master of Tourism Management program. Davidson, of Aurora, Colo., graduated from CSU the first time in 2017 with a degree in Communications before deciding to continue her education through the MTM program in 2021. She did so on her terms and timeline, taking a class here and there while working full-time. When she restarted classes at CSU, she was working for the University as a Academic Project Manager, but by graduation, she has transitioned to a job aligned with MTM and her passions. In April, Davidson became a Partnership Manager with Visit Fort Collins, which is the city’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).
Q&A with Abby:
What do you do with Visit Fort Collins?
“Essentially, we market Fort Collins as a tourist destination and act as a megaphone for Fort Collins. We want people to know just how wonderful Fort Collins is as a destination! As the Partnership Manager, I’m responsible for creating and maintaining contact with business owners all across Fort Collins and supporting them as much as possible. I am also part of the marketing team and write blogs, create itineraries for media and familiarization trips, and plan partner events.”
What are you most excited about with your future career?
“I am most excited to continue working in a job I am passionate about. Being out in the community and meeting people I would have never met before is something I only dreamed of…and now I’m working a job that lets me do that!”
What was your favorite HDNR course and why?
“My favorite course was Dr. Stuart Cottrell’s Sustainable Tourism Development course. This course really helped stretch me as a graduate student and increased my knowledge of sustainability and how important it is in general and in the world of tourism! I will never forget some of the readings I did for that course. Dr. Cottrell was an amazing professor and encouraged us to really work hard to apply the knowledge we learned.”
What was the most enjoyable part of your HDNR journey?
“I enjoyed the self-paced nature of the program. Because I worked full-time throughout the program, I never had time to do courses full-time. The ability to take two to four classes per semester was very helpful, and I was still able to get the program done fairly quickly.”
Why did you choose HDNR ?
“I chose HDNR because I was interested in the MTM program and I graduated with my undergraduate degree from CSU. I really enjoyed my time at CSU, so it only made sense for me to continue my academic journey there.”
