Chris Hair
Laramie County Community College
Cheyenne, WY USA
"There is no better classroom than world itself."
Career Roadmap
Chris 's work combines: Environment & Nature, Science, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Mead High School, Spokane WA
Bachelor's Degree
Geography: Global Studies
Brigham Young University
Graduate Degree
Geography
University of Southern Mississippi
Doctorate
Geography
University of Southern Mississippi
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Instructor of Geosciences:
Bachelor's Degree: Geography: Global Studies
Graduate Degree: Geography
Doctorate: Geography
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Graduated high school planning on becoming a mechanical engineer.
2.
Switched majors many times: English, Neuroscience, Construction Management.
3.
Poor grades landed me on academic probation multiple times during my undergraduate career.
4.
Broke my jaw in a skiing accident and quit school for a few years to work. During this time I managed a Mexican food restaurant, and delivered medicine and supplies to hospitals.
5.
Returned to school and took a "Geography of Latin America" class. I realized that I had always had a passion for geography.
6.
Never thought I would go to graduate school, but I did! Got accepted to the graduate school at Southern Miss.
7.
Became a Fulbright-Hays Scholar, and spent a few years in northern Ecuador hiking volcanoes and studying Indigenous agriculture.
8.
Got a job at LCCC during the pandemic of 2020!!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
I often got the question, "What can you possibly do with a Geography degree?" There were many times when this question made me doubt my chosen field and wonder if I could be successful.
How I responded:
I think we are often driven by the job market—which career has the most job opportunities or which career will provide me with the best salary? Those are important but not the only considerations. I found that engaging with my professors and connecting with professionals in my field (something I was afraid to do at first) gave me a better perspective of the jobs and opportunities that geographers were involved in. It reignited my excitement and passion for geography.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I skated through high school and then floundered through my first few years of college. As a result, my grades suffered. One winter I broke my jaw skiing, and had to take time off from school. It took me 12 years to finish my undergrad degree.