It’s not surprising that Hannah Funke has more than a passing interest in fire. She grew up in northwest Montana, where there is a prevalent fire season. When she was young, she and her father would chase wildfires, observing the crews managing them. Both her parents fought fires — her mom’s desire to become a smokejumper was interrupted when she got pregnant with Hannah. Her father went on to become a welder and her mother went back to school to become a paralegal and later a nurse. Neither continued their fire fighting as Funke grew older. 

The unrelenting bad news about the trajectory of the Earth’s climate has engendered plenty of pessimism. But there is another way to react to the sobering scientific consensus. Rather than give up and abandon any responsibility for climate woes, a growing number of people — especially young people —are acknowledging the gravity of the crisis while fully embracing their ability to improve their future. It is an empowering attitude that helps ward off climate doom anxiety.

 Wireless sensor networks build resilience in a Native community — and in our research team

What do you get when you mix over 30 team members representing engineering faculty and students, ROTC cadets, aspiring lawyers, educational psychology instructors, and experts in flooding, then add a dash of ancient tribal knowledge, temperamental field sensors, wireless sensor networks built in-house, and unpredictable weather conditions — all with a one-year deadline and strict budget from a federal funding agency?

Having a mentor can be an integral component to an individual’s professional success. A mentor can help professionals learn and grow, expand their network, and even provide new employment opportunities. It is important to remember that not every style or approach to mentoring is appropriate for every professional. Here are a few ways to mentor a young Native professional.

You did it! You’ve made your college decision. Now it’s time for you to pack up and make your way to campus. But be careful what you pack. It may seem like you need to bring everything from your third grade spelling trophy to your custom wall art, but think twice before you pack everything you own. Many college students end up bringing things they don’t ever need or use. Given the small size of most dorm rooms, less really is more. Here are a few things you don’t need to bring to college.
 
Prohibited Items

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about great change. One of those changes is the “great resignation.” From wanting to work remotely to pursuing an entirely new career, the reasons for employees leaving their current jobs vary widely. Perhaps you have considered whether there is a position out there that would be a better fit. But how do you know if it’s the right time for you and your current employer to part ways? Here are a few tips to help you know when to make a change.
 
You’re Truly Uninterested in Your Work

After years of a set path in school, you may find yourself wondering what’s next. Whether you have a plan or are still figuring it out, the one constant is making sure you can fund whatever your future brings. This doesn’t mean you need to have thousands of dollars in the bank, but being smart about your money now will help ensure that you have it when you need it later. Here are a few ways to help fund your future.
 
Learn the Language

Traditional aspects of how and where we work have shifted over the past two years. The remote and hybrid work schedules can make it much harder to separate professional and personal lives. As a result, you may feel like you’re never able to get away from work. You may find yourself becoming more negative or cynical, feeling tired, and lacking motivation to get your work done. Don’t assume these are normal feelings. You might be experiencing burnout. Here are five signs that you’re burned out — and what to do about it. 

Whether graduation is around the corner or in your rearview mirror, you may find yourself wondering what’s next. Some students know which path they are taking before they graduate. For others, the path isn’t as clear. The good news is that there are many different paths and no wrong answer, only the path that works for you. But how do you figure out which path to take? Here are a few ways to help you decide which path makes the most sense for you.
 
Define Your Passion

Fearless. That’s how one manager describes Nikki DuPuy in her role at General Motors (GM). From DuPuy’s point of view, she’s the proud product of a Navajo matriarchy that stressed the importance of higher learning, hard work, and self-sufficiency. “I knew early on that I would make my own way in life,” she says about growing up in Tuba City, Ariz., on the Navajo Reservation. “It’s never been about taking a traditional journey, but about finding the right path for me.”