Posted on by Arica Clauson

Meet Alumna Emma Skumurski ’21, Environmental Scientist at CarriageHouse Consulting

Name: Emma Skumurski

Class Year: 2021

Title: Environmental Scientist

Organization: CarriageHouse Consulting Inc

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail? 
I am an environmental scientist at CarriageHouse Consulting Inc, where I collect environmental samples for petroleum product-related companies and then provide these companies with written analytical reports.

 

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?    

This opportunity came to me in a totally unexpected manner!  A fellow Holy Cross classmate and friend passed along the employment opportunity to me. I am so grateful she did! I then followed a very planned path of researching the company and sending a tailored application.  Ultimately, I learned that Carriage House would be a great fit for me by reaching out to Holy Cross alumni at the company.  The alumni gave me great insight into the positive, exciting, and professional working environment fostered at Carriage House.  However, a majority of my job search did follow a very defined plan of attending networking nights, inquiring about informational interviews, and scheduling job searches with my professors and Shirley!

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?  

The beauty of Holy Cross is the depth of the opportunities that are available. I had the honor of being on the Division 1 field hockey team. I was a  grocery shopper for the Chaplain’s Office, a greeter with Liturgical Ministry, a leader and participant in the Spring Break Immersion Program, a Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program, and a tour guide with admissions. I loved the diverse opportunities that Holy Cross had to offer, they allowed me to grow in ways I never could have imagined!

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?  

I was a Biology Major with an Environmental Studies Minor – the variety of classes enabled me to widen my horizons and broaden the opportunities available to me in the environmental field. I came into Holy Cross thinking I wanted to be a National Park Ranger and my eyes were opened to so many different and emerging fields!

 

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work? 

One of the amazing skills I learned at Holy Cross that aids me as an environmental scientist is my ability to work with others and conduct creative problem-solving. Being in a very dynamic and hands-on field, my ability to think on my feet and to adapt my expertise to still collect clean samples has been a valuable resource.

6. What advice do you have for students today?

You all got this! Have some faith in yourself and do not be afraid to reach out to alumni!  A great resource can be contacting your prior classmates and learning about their experience transitioning into the workforce. Above all else make sure you help others realize their dreams as you are realizing yours!