Geography & The Environment at California State University, Fullerton

Tamara Wallace

Sustainability Program Manager, California State University Chancellor's Office

"A few introductory courses in Geography and I fell in love with the discipline."

Tamara came to CSUF as an undeclared freshman with hopes of a BFA in Musical Theater. Luckily, she realized rather quickly that she wasn’t truly as passionate about that trajectory as she once thought, “I don’t like to practice, I have no personal drive to go to auditions, etc…” Tamara admits.

With her musical ambitions quickly set aside, Tamara was free to entertain all possibilities, and soon discovered that she was very interested in fields such as political science, international affairs, and sociology. “A few introductory courses in Geography allowed me to see the interconnectedness of all of the world’s systems through key geographical principles. Coursework that examined these global systems, and the collaborative spirit of my fellow students made me fall in love with the discipline.” Tamara says, and so it was a "no brainer" – geography was for her.

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Tamara returned to CSUF to earn a graduate degree. Her master’s thesis research considered the impact of sustainability assessments on the campus employee populations, and placed a focus on student awareness of campus sustainability in relation to general awareness of sustainability principles and practices.

Today she is the Sustainability Project Coordinator here at CSU, Fullerton, where she works to establish the campus as a leader in the field of sustainability at the state, regional, national and international level by promoting broader awareness of Cal State Fullerton's environmental success and accomplishments.

“I have grown to understand the value of having what geographer’s call a ‘sense of place.’ I am sure in that, however HSS and the Department of Geography & the Environment might evolve in the future, I will always have a home where I grew up.” Tamara says, adding, “It is a place that fostered a sense of value and purpose in this chaotic world, and I have a responsibility, as an alum, to give back to those programs.”

Adam Aaron

Geospatial Coordinator, Southern California Edison

"My degree provided me with a place to grow and the educational means needed to successfully navigate the modern job market."

It was after taking his first mapping class that Adam decided to declare Geography his major. While in school, Adam says that Geographic Information System (GIS) was something that came more naturally to him, and that he could envision himself “as a modern day Geographer.”

Adam credits several of his professors with being instrumental in his development as a GIS professional and believes that the skills he honed under their tutelage gave him a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Daniel Martinez

Assistant City Planner, Laguna Niguel / Lecturer, CSUF

“I had a strong desire to learn more about cities and the environment.”

Following high school, Daniel felt that he lacked the confidence and focus required to pursue a college education, so instead of jumping straight into a degree program that he would have known nothing about, he opted to work. As luck would have it, he found employment as a technician at an engineering firm.

“That job exposed me to environmental professionals and the field of city planning. I had a strong desire to learn more about cities and the environment, and in this way I gained a sense of direction.” Daniel recalls. And from that experience, he chose to study Geography at CSUF.

While at CSUF Daniel was afforded “the opportunity to learn more about the way in which humans shape and in turn are shaped by their environment.” Upon completing his undergraduate degree, Daniel was accepted to the UCI Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning degree program where he continued his education before eventually finding employment as a Planning Aide, and then a full-time Assistant Planner for the City of Laguna Niguel.

In addition to working for Laguna Niguel, Daniel has been a part-time lecturer at CSUF since Spring 2016, where he aims to help students with their educational and professional journeys.

“My goal when I began my education was to become a city planner. The process to get there was a cumulative effort between earning my B.A. in Geography from CSU Fullerton, earning my Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from University of California, Irvine, and gaining hands-on experience through applicable internships. Each of these steps to get to where I ultimately wanted to be were unique and invaluable.”