Stephanie Vandal (MS Geology, 2008)

In January 2008 my husband Jordan and I moved back to Minnesota. I took a job with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (ah, state bennies!) doing lake protection work. This job pulls a bit from both my geology and environmental background, which is great.

I live in the Brainerd Lakes Area of North Central Minneasota. This area is home to a high percentage of our state's lakes. Over the past several years, this region has experienced high population growth, and along with that, developmental pressure to our lakes. Through the MPCA, I'm working with a group of people from several different state agencies, non-profits, and lake associations to promote private and public water and land use practices that protect MN's lake heritage. My working title is North Central Lakes Collaborative Coordinator.

In June 2008 Jordan and I were blessed with a wonderful baby boy - Owen. He is our pride and joy. He enjoys laughing, making new noises, practicing crawling, and eating. I was very empowered by the whole birth/labor thing that I decided to become a doula. I am currently working on my certification for that, and may find that down the road that takes the main stage for a career for me - who knows!?

One of the things that I missed about MN when we were living in Eburg was seasons - well, today as I write this the high is -7 degrees -- maybe I could use one or two days of Eburg summer sun!