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 Qian Yusen from the Master of Park and Protected Area Management program. Yusen is from Wuhan, which is the capital of the Hubei Province in China and home campus of Central China Normal University. Since 2015, HDNR and CCNU have partnered to deliver the Master of Tourism Management program on CCNU’s campus and online. The two schools started the MPPM program in the fall of 2022. Yusen, a non-traditional student and art teacher, hopes to pair his new knowledge of parks with future art initiatives in conservation.
Q&A with Qian:
What is your favorite HDNR course and why?
“During my studies, the course I was most interested in was NRRT 630 Protected Areas and Global Conservation. The reason for my interest in this course was that it exposed me to the world’s best practices and knowledge in protected area management. I have always been a person who likes to collect information to learn about the world, and this course has greatly broadened my horizons and made me realize how difficult the management of protected areas and the construction of protected areas is. The course also gave me a sense of mission and a sense of pride in this area of conservation and learning about it.”
What was the most enjoyable part of your HDNR journey?
“One of the most enjoyable experiences I had during my studies was a series of mock conflict facilitation meetings in Professor Tanner’s course. This way of teaching allowed us to better immerse ourselves in the situation, and think about issues related to protected area management from the perspective of various stakeholders, so that we are not only from the perspective of a manager. That’s what I really like about our MPPM faculty’s teaching style, which has taught me a lot, and some of the methods that I might apply later on in my work. In fact, I think the biggest difference between our graduate study and undergraduate study is that graduate study cares more about letting us build up a logic of conservation management rather than just instilling knowledge.”
What are you most excited about for your future career?
“I love this career, and I stayed part-time in the broadcasting arts program, while I was studying at MPPM. It was a great pleasure to talk to the younger students who were a few years younger than me. Sharing my experience with them also fills me with a sense of fulfillment. In addition, after taking CSU courses, especially NRRT 637 (Leadership, Management, and Protected Areas) and 640 (Protected Area Communication), I have gained more confidence in my management skills.
“During my studies for the MPPM, I have learned about many careers that I can pursue, and I’ve thought about how to combine the skills that I have acquired with the specialty that I’ve studied. So I thought about a media-related path in the geography of protected areas or National Geographic – China. This is of course the perfect job for me, working in Beijing, which is also the center of China’s media development, and where there are many companies engaged in language-related businesses.”
