Perseverance Pays Off

Daniel Large '09, B. A. Psychology

Daniel Large, who grew up in the San Antonio metro area, began his career in biomedical research. Yet he never lost sight of his "roots in conservation and the environment" and his desire to forge a career in that field.

The roots he refers to were planted and nurtured by his mother, who loved animals and gardening, and his grandfather, an avid gardener and hunter. "Each modeled a passion for nature that caught fire in me at an early age," he says, recalling how he went from feeding ducks, to Boy Scouts, to gardening, bird watching, and volunteering at a local zoo.

When it came time for college, Daniel admits Trinity was his one back-up school. In the end, it was also the lone school that accepted him; still, he felt "privileged to attend" and lauds Trinity as a good environment for professional development. Despite his passion for conservation/ecology, he discovered that the traditional career path in that field (through biology) wasn't going to work for him. "I lacked the skills encouraged among biology majors (read: math!) and was turned off by biology's emphasis on physical science over social dimensions of conservation's problems, " he explains.

He majored in psychology but found an outlet for his lingering passion. With support from biology professor Kelly Lyons, he effectively functioned as the informal de facto curator of the old Coates greenhouse, where he established a large collection of native and tropical plants in the largely defunct space. He also enjoyed exploring Latin American culture "off the beaten path" during Spanish professor Bladimir Ruiz's class trips. Over the course of a summer fellowship sponsored by McNair Scholars Program, which prepares well-qualified undergraduates from minorities underrepresented in academia for success in graduate studies (and of which he was among the first cohort), Daniel was mentored by psychology professor Paula Hertel, who introduced him to scholarly research techniques and practices. Hertel also supervised his senior thesis, and is still someone whom Daniel counts as "a dear mentor."

To further hone his research skills in preparation for a Ph.D.—at the time he was considering psychology—and gain professional experience, Daniel accepted a job as a research assistant at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He stayed with the research team—a "colorful band of psychiatrists, geneticists, and statisticians"—for six years, moving with the group when the director was hired at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in El Paso, and ultimately becoming the grants and contracts supervisor. The position afforded him opportunities to travel, gain experience in research administration, and interact with collaborators throughout Mexico and Central America. He also came to appreciate the powerful role that institutions play in society, particularly in terms of the environment.

Although he loved the work and the opportunities biomedical research administration afforded him, Daniel‘s roots in conservation and the environment "kept calling." To "re-brand" himself professionally and build a resume to pursue a competitive Ph.D. program, he decided to earn a Master of Public Administration. "Despite my accomplishments, initially I seemed to have had a hard time marketing myself to environmental organizations given my unconventional background (psychology and biomedical research)."

Near the end of his MPA program, he landed a job at the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) in the Threatened and Endangered Species division, where he has been habitat conservation coordinator for the last two years. "Cultivating a research career parallel to my professional responsibilities has been complicated," he acknowledges. But the opportunity to work at the EAA and get an inside perspective on environmental policy and implementation has been a perfect match for his academic and professional interests.

Fortunately, the EAA has been supportive of Daniel's educational endeavors. During his tenure, he has been able to both complete his MPA and carry out a fellowship he had been awarded through the UTSA Mexico Center to study Mexico's implementation of an environmental policy. This endeavor involved two extended stays in Guadalajara over the past year. Happily, his hard work and perseverance paid off. Last month, he was accepted into a Ph.D. program at Cornell University and will move to Ithaca, N.Y., in August to study environmental policy.

With little time to spare between his professional and academic responsibilities, Daniel pursues his passion for nature and the environment in outdoor activities. He is secretary of the Friends of San Antonio Natural Area's Board and has developed an interest in photography of insects and other invertebrates. A self-described all-around naturalist, he enjoys bird watching, natural history, gardening, and, as his responsibilities and projects are winding down, he's taking time to relax.

Down the road, he would like to come back and contribute to environmental policy in Texas, but recognizes, "I have an adventure ahead of me and am keeping an open mind about where I land."