While John's undergraduate research at Stevenson led him to assist our local Chesapeake Bay, his education has also taken John to Costa Rica as well as Oahu and Maui, Hawaii for animal and ecological research.
“I love talking about animals and the environment. I also love science in general and I dream of becoming a zoologist.” Fulfilling his dreams is one of the reasons why alumnus John L. Prettyman IV (Biology ’18), chose Stevenson.
In addition to serving as a member of the Male Initiative for Leadership and Excellence, the Environmental Club, the Wilderness and Ecology Club, and the Rugby Club, academically, John focused on undergraduate research. In particular, one project was his ongoing research of the oysters of the Chesapeake, where he helped rebuild the reefs and study the health of the oysters. Other research projects include surveying and identifying crayfish and mapping their locations; conducting research on plants and animals in Costa Rica and Hawaii; and, in January 2018, researching humpback whales and ocean mammals at the Ocean Mammals Institute in Maui, Hawaii.
He also took advantage of Stevenson’s study abroad opportunities to conduct research in his areas of interest. In Costa Rica, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii, he focused on the ecological aspects of the plants and animal life found in those regions. “The favorite part of my major has been traveling and working with animals of all kinds. Plus we get to be outside most of the time.”
Overall, John says, “Stevenson kept me career-focused since the day I set foot on campus. With the research experience and professors I have had, finding a career goal and reaching for it has been simple. I definitely would not have been as outgoing, career-ready, or even known what career to choose if I had not gone to Stevenson.”
