The NAU Review — Who wants to be a park ranger? What’s weird about quantum computing? Who appreciates bats?

April 19, 2022

James Jensen received a bachelor’s in political science, then quickly got a sales job that left him feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. After spending a week last summer backpacking through Glacier National Park, he decided it was time for a change; he wanted to pursue something he truly enjoyed—the outdoors. Northern Arizona University’s accelerated Park Ranger Training Program is one of only six in the country. In just 16 short weeks, students earn a certificate that opens the metaphorical door to working in state and national parks throughout the U.S. This week, Jensen and his cohort will graduate. Thanks to this program, he will soon get to work his dream job in his favorite place on Earth.

The world of quantum computing can be intimidating. It is at the intersection of so many disciplines like medicine and cybersecurity with large implications for our future as a civilization—but this only deepened the interest of Ph.D. students Jaime Diaz and Taylor Begay-Wilson. After a seminar delivered by IBM, these two students took what they learned to the next level.