Interview with Shanelle Thevarajah
Tell us about yourself and why you chose the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree program at the University of Guelph?
Hi! My name is Shanelle Thevarajah, and I graduated from the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree program in 2019. I chose the BAS program because I was indecisive and wanted to explore a few different paths before solidifying anything. The program was great because I was able to explore different coursework before finding things I enjoyed and eventually declared both of my minors in my third year without any setbacks. My minors were Zoology and Family & Child Studies which seemed like a strange combination to a lot of people at that time, but I really loved learning about both animals and people.
What did you like most about your program? Is there anything in particular about the courses or professors that stands out to you?
In addition to the flexible nature of the program, I loved the program-specific courses that were a requirement for BAS students. They taught us how to bridge the gap between science and communities, which I use a lot in my work now. It is also a very marketable mindset when you are applying to jobs – having an interdisciplinary lens is everything!
Where are you currently working and what is your role?
I am currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Connecticut, but prior to this, I was working for a non-profit in Boulder for three years. In that position, I was the Internship Programs Manager, where I managed wildlife-related internship programs for underrepresented young adults in partnership with the National Park Service. In that role, I reviewed proposals, granted funds to parks to host interns, and trained site supervisors on how to best support interns in their park. Through that position, I was fortunate enough to work with incredible young adults and be a part of some incredible wildlife work across the national park system. The icing on top was being able to travel and see some of the most beautiful places in the United States. You can read more about those programs and my role here.
How did your degree and time at the University of Guelph help get you to where you are today? How do the skills and education you gained help with your current work?
Since graduating from U of G, most of my work has been in the happy space between hard science and social science. I was hired at Denver Zoo after graduating and where I used my Family/Child Studies side of my degree to communicate scientific knowledge to zoo visitors through programming, narrating, and newsletters. From there, I pursued my M.S. in Environmental Biology, where I kept most of my capstone focused on interdisciplinary topics like human/wildlife conflict, wildlife trade, and anthropogenic impacts on wildlife. In my M.S. program, I completed an externship with the Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado where I was modified science curriculum for a citizen science program called the Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network. Now, my Ph.D. research focuses on factors that motivate or discourage members of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community to pursue careers in the environmental field and how mentorship, especially representative mentorship, impacts the career trajectory of environmental professionals. I have held the interdisciplinary lens that I was introduced to through the BAS program and I think I will keep it for the rest of my career!
What advice would you give someone considering a bachelor's degree in Arts and Sciences or applying to the University of Guelph?
I would totally say to go for it! I think it is such a great option if you are indecisive like I was. I remember a few people declaring a major and switching out of the program, but if you are interested in more than one thing, it is such a great way to get balance out of your university experience. In my opinion, it makes you enticing and marketable to more employers and roles. I always mention in my interviews with potential employers that I did an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree, and I have always been met with a positive response.
Bonus Questions
Where was your favourite place to eat on campus and what was your go-to food order?
I lived in Arts House (or Maids Hall) which was right by Creelman! I may be biased, but that is the best dining hall in my opinion. We used to get slices of cake there as a treat on Sundays (so good!). But you can never go wrong with the spinach and artichoke dip at The Bullring, and I loved the atmosphere there too.
What was your pre-exam ritual?
I have no idea why or how this song found me, but I used to listen to Bacon by Nick Jonas before every exam which was insane of me! I never really listened to it any other time!
