The Rocket

Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Submitted Photo Mike Mumau (left), who earned a graduate degree from SRU in 1999, stands with John Oliver, the former Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, at the grand opening of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle. [Click to enlarge]

What does it take for a person to get their dream job?

SRU graduate school alumnus Mike Mumau now knows the answer to this question.

Mumau said he knew all along that he wanted his career to be in a field dealing with the environment, and his passion for the outdoors and his drive to succeed helped get him where he is today as the new Park Operations Manager at Laurel Hill Park Complex.

The 34-year-old Greensburg native graduated from Hempsville Area Senior High School.

After graduation, Mumau went to Allegheny College, where he graduated with an environmental studies degree and a political science minor.

"That major was always an obvious choice for me," Mumau said. "I've always been passionate about the environment and I felt that I could contribute to that cause."

Mumau said that the political science minor influenced being involved with the environment through a government aspect.

His first job after graduation was for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in southwest Alaska.

He said the purpose of the Wildlife Service is to conserve, protect and enhance natural habitats along with wildlife to always benefit citizens.

After working in Alaska, Mumau worked as an outdoor educator in the Chesapeake Bay area. It was around this time when he came to Slippery Rock after being offered a full-time job to come to Pennsylvania that he enrolled in the graduate program at SRU.

"It was one of the best opportunities for a graduate program in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources," Mumau said.

Mumau graduated with a master's degree from SRU in 1999.

Continued...

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