Women’s History Month: Paving the Way for Future Generations

The contributions of women are far-reaching and indispensable to our work here at the Bureau of Land Management Utah. For Women’s History Month and throughout the year, we are highlighting some of the women paving the way for the next generation.
 

Allysia Angus - Landscape Architect for Paria River District & Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Hoodoos at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument with the sunset in the background. A woman wearing glasses in front of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument sign. A vehicle at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument for the artist-in-residence program with mountains in the background.

Allysia Angus, Paria River District Landscape Architect, holds one of the four landscape architecture positions in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – a uniquely specialized career path that focuses on environmental planning, visual resource management, and site planning and design within public lands.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Karren Haslam - Assistant District Manager of Support Services, Green River District

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The sun lends a golden hue to John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area. A smiling woman wearing a baseball cap and a flower above her ear while hiking in the desert.

Karren Haslam, Assistant District Manager of Support Services on the Green River District, has spent most of her career in the Wildland Fire program and has explored a good share of public lands in the West. With Karren recently starting her position as the Assistant District Manager of Support Services on the Green River District, she has a whole new area of public lands to explore. As a mentor to new employees, Karren’s drive to share opportunities and help others reach their greatest potential is paving career paths for future generations.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Katja Knoll - Paleontologist and Lab Manager, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Fossils and equipment on a table in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Paleontology lab. A woman holds a fossil and is standing in front of shelves with artifacts and boxes. A woman examines equipment at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Paleontology lab.

Katja Knoll, Paleontologist and Lab Manager for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, is a film student- turned-paleontologist. After pursuing an education for documentary filmmaking and rediscovering a passion for science, Katja’s career path and education took an unexpected detour. Katja moved to Kanab, Utah, and began working as a paleontology intern for Dr. Alan Titus at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument during the summer of 2014. Shortly after, Katja was hired full-time as the paleontology lab manager for the Monument and graduated with a Master of Science in Geology. Katja also helped Dr. Alan Titus expand the Monument’s paleontology volunteer program and continues to manage it today, which she says brings a myriad of diversity and perspective to the program.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Molly Hocanson - Planning and Environmental Specialist, Green River District

The pink color of dusk colors the San Rafael Swell. Smiling woman riding a dark brown horse through a desert canyon.

Molly Hocanson, a Planning and Environmental Specialist on the Green River District, knew she would work for a land management agency someday to help preserve and protect the resources that she loves. As Molly explored career opportunities, the Bureau of Land Management’s work connected all her interests. Her work as a Planning and Environmental Specialist is a vital aspect of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of public lands.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Raven Chavez - Soil Scientist, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

A woman with tools and equipment sitting on the ground with dirt in her hand. A woman standing in front of vehicle with her hand raised. Two people reviewing soil on the ground with equipment and notebook near them.

Raven Chavez, a Soil Scientist at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, started her soils journey in December 2012 at the Oregon State College of Forestry and worked for a few federal agencies before starting her career with the Bureau of Land Management. In addition to her primary duties, Raven can also be found bringing soil science to the classroom, speaking about her work with students, conducting worm races, and stressing the importance of an education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, more commonly known as STEM. To learn more about some of Raven’s work as a Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Soil Scientist, visit: Scientists take AIM at natural resources on BLM land.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Stephanie Howard - National Environmental Policy Act Branch Chief, Green River District

Mountain landscape with the Green River flowing and the leaves of the trees changing colors. Woman in a red shirt standing on a boardwalk in front of a beautiful desert scene. Ackerman’s Green Gentian.

Stephanie Howard, National Environmental Policy Act Branch Chief on the Green River District, is no stranger to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Her father is a petroleum engineer with the BLM, so she grew up with many stories about public lands. Working for the BLM’s Green River District as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Branch Chief allows Stephanie to learn something new daily, research and often write about plants. NEPA is essential in helping BLM meets its responsibility to America and factors into almost every decision BLM makes with respect to land use.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Valerie Russell - Archaeologist and Assistant Monument Manager, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

A woman near a house with two people behind her for a stabilization project. Trees with the Watson cabin in Hackberry Canyon. A person wearing a mask and gloves touching the side of the wood cabin.

Valerie Russell, Assistant Monument Manager at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, previously served as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s archaeologist for nearly three years. Russell’s duties included a wide variety of cultural resource program management activities – some of which included ensuring legal compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, preserving Utah’s past through collaboration with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office and Tribal Leaders, and providing technical expertise on NEPA Interdisciplinary Teams in preparation of environmental compliance documents.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Veronica Kratman - Realty Specialist, Green River District

Mountains and canyons with a river flowing through at the Wedge Overlook. A smiling woman sits on a desert rock with a dog in the background. Beyond the cubicle: Site Inspection within the Price Field Office Boundaries.

Veronica Kratman, Realty Specialist on the Green River District, was drawn to the opportunity to work on meaningful projects in the Bureau of Land Management and having an ‘office’ that extends beyond a cubicle. Veronica is a project lead that works with an interdisciplinary National Environmental Policy Act team to analyze impacts of proposed projects on the environment.

Her Story: Facebook Feature

Story by:

Javonne Goodman, Public Affairs Specialist

Blog Topic:
Careers
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