Majors: Biology and Environmental Science
Why did you choose your majors?
I initially just had biology as my major and then when I realized all the classes that the Environmental Science major included, I scheduled an appointment with my counselor and decided that having a broader range of knowledge would be beneficial for me when it came to either career path that I wish to pursue.
What has encouraged or inspired you to stick with a biology major?
The main reason I have stuck with the biology major is that there are so many career paths that you can do with it. Whether wanting to go into pharmaceuticals or zoology, a biology degree is a universal degree that covers pretty much everything.
What intrigues you about the environmental science major?
The thing that intrigued me about the environmental science major was the types of labs that were offered under it. Many of the labs under this major involve field work like the water resources lab. Also, The Oceans and The Oceans Lab were other classes that I wanted to take due to my interest in Marine Biology and the ocean in general.
Would you recommend them to a future student? Why?
I would recommend my two majors to a future student. While being a double STEM major is a lot of work and you can plan on having 16 credits or more in your four years at California Lutheran University, it is so fulfilling. You have such a wide array of classes to choose from and with these departments come great mentors and professors you get to work with. Even though I have only completed one year here at Cal Lu, I have loved every part of it. This summer, I participated in directed research with Dr. Megan Fung in the environmental science department. I gained laboratory skills as a freshman and was given this amazing opportunity that allowed me to begin my journey toward my dream career.
What are your future plans?
I plan to go to graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in biology. The career paths that I am in between are becoming a zoologist or a forensic scientist.
Are there any particular experiences — in or out of the classroom — that have helped you identify that path?
I remember always going to SeaWorld when I was a kid and falling in love with the animals there. I never wanted to leave the tanks and would constantly be entranced by their behaviors. Since I saw Shamu swim up to me, I wanted to be a marine biologist. Then, I was introduced to the big cats and safari animals, broadening my view into zoology. On the other hand, as I got older I became addicted to the TV show called Criminal Minds. I thought the detective work and the thinking outside of the box when it came to solving murder cases was so interesting. I would find myself trying to solve the case before they would and would sometimes do so.
What type of research did you study with Dr. Fung?
The title of my research with Dr. Fung is Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Arctic Ocean from Ostracodes, and it consists of looking at microfossils, specifically ostracodes, from samples that were taken in two different locations in the Chukchi Sea. We use information like diversity, the ratio of whole ostracodes to total number of ostracode valves, grain size, and what the dominant species is in each region in order to determine what the climate was like when those ostracodes were alive.
What are the support systems that you have used to help you manage your two STEM majors?
The support systems that have helped me manage my two STEM majors are Student Support Services and Allies in STEM. These two have practically been my lifelines when it came to organizing a manageable schedule and also being super supportive and encouraging. Ever since I got my first introduction of Allies in STEM through the STEM academy in the summer of 2022, I have felt nothing but overwhelming support and love that made me want to strive for my best. My counselor, Monica Madrigal, in Student Support Services, is such an enormous help and is the sweetest person that I know. She has helped me with anything and everything that I have ever needed and always gives me every option that I can take.
Cheyanne is a recipient of a 2023 Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship. With her faculty mentor, Megan Fung, PhD, she is working on a project titled, “Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Arctic Ocean from Ostracodes.”