An Interview with Shannon Doherty, BA, Environmental Studies, 2015
Edited by Christina Santiago, Hunter College, English major

 

Shannon Doherty received her BA in, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, and Special Honors – CUNY Hunter College 2015. Doherty also received her MPA, Environmental Science & Policy – Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs 2016. In previous years Doherty served as a Green Roof Intern, NYC Parks in the year 2013, was an Operations Analyst, NYC Parks through the years 2016-2019, and is currently a Project Development Coordinator, NYC Parks.

How has Hunter Geography helped shape who you are today/your future?
Hunter Geo shaped the foundation of how I think about the world today and my career working in parks. Before coming to Hunter, I was a freelance makeup artist and dance educator on an unsure track. When I decided to major in Environmental Studies and Public Policy, I started the big-picture thinking I had always craved. The skills I learned in Hunter Geo - particularly GIS and Excel - were super useful in graduate school and my role as an Analyst at NYC Parks. Most of all, my professors offered a ton of support helping me get an internship, a TGIF grant, a part-time campus job, and basically into graduate school with their recommendation letters. I might owe my current life to Hunter Geo.

Why is geographic approach important to your research?
I find that geographic data is almost always the best data. Whether I’m working on a project about park features or figuring out where to eat for dinner, I always start with a map and carry the conversation from there. The ability to think geographically is usually advantageous because it removes a few steps.

What is your current research?
As I am motivated by serving the public, climate change, love of nature and New York City my current research is streamlining the management of discretionary awards for nonprofit programs in parks. A lot of attention and money are going to parks these days, and keeping track of it all requires a lot of systems and communication. I also participate in extracurricular activities at work, like the Leadership Development Program and the Arsenal Gardening Team – my office is in a neat historic building in Central Park, so taking care of our rooftop plants is not just a really gorgeous way to break up the workday, but somehow feels like an honor too.

Published: November 27, 2019