Owen Sobel ’24 swapped soccer cleats for hiking boots to pursue a rewarding career in environmental field research and conservation.

A former midfielder for Diplomat men’s soccer, Sobel is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife biological technician at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for migratory birds, monk seals, sea turtles and other wildlife.

“This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts in one of the most unique and ecologically significant places in the world,” Sobel said. 

On Midway Atoll, he works at a remote field camp supporting critical wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration projects. His role includes monitoring and banding albatross to assess reproductive success, assisting with Laysan duck health treatment and disease management, and conducting invasive species removal and native plant restoration. Sobel also has tracked and tagged green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals to support long-term population studies and recovery efforts. 

Sobel is a member of F&M’s Class of 2024. Within six months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2024 were either employed or furthering their education. This is higher than the national average, which is typically in the mid-80% range.

Owen Sobel ’24

Joint major: Environmental studies, economics

Current role: U.S Fish & Wildlife biological technician at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands)

What did the first six months after graduating from F&M look like?

Immediately after graduating, I moved to Three Rivers, Calif., to work for USGS [U.S. Geological Survey] in Sequoia National Park. I worked as a seasonal field crew member collecting data for a fire ecology chronosequence project to assess forest health and regrowth after forest fires. I also got the opportunity to work on other projects involving sequoia tree regeneration and growth and post-fire sequoia seed dispersal studies. 

This research and the data was used to help inform government agencies how to manage endangered sequoia groves and forests on public land that had been impacted by forest fires. This data collection took place in the field, meaning my days were spent hiking and backpacking throughout the Sierra Nevada to reach different field plots in order to collect data. The actual work itself consisted of vegetation identification, biomass estimations, soil sampling, tree growth measurements and fuel-level measurements and calculations. The work was physically demanding and extremely difficult at times, but I enjoyed working outdoors and being hands-on with the environment every day.

"F&M gave me the time and space to grow and really find my passions and interests."

- Owen Sobel ’24

How did your F&M experience prepare you for where you are now?

My time at F&M gave me the baseline skills in environmental fieldwork and data collection through different labs and hands-on experiences in the classroom. These experiences, along with a well-rounded education outside of my major, gave me the confidence and skills that directly transferred into the field, and allowed me to immediately pursue jobs that interested me. 

Classes like “Environmental Resources & Geographic Information Systems,” “Business and the Natural Environment” and “Environmental Policy” all contributed valuable skills and knowledge that help me every day in the workplace. 

How does your current path compare to what you envisioned in your first year at F&M?

My current path is wildly different from what I imagined it would be while in my first year at F&M. I am on a career track and working jobs I didn't even know existed. Thankfully, F&M gave me the time and space to grow and really find my passions and interests, so that now I am pursuing them as a career. 

Looking back on your college search, why did you choose F&M?

I chose F&M because I knew I wanted to go to a small liberal arts school. It was an experience and environment I wanted to be in. F&M offered great academics in a wide variety of fields and majors, a beautiful campus in a small city like Lancaster, and the opportunity to continue to play soccer at a high level.

Why F&M? The College “offered great academics in a wide variety of fields and majors, a beautiful campus, and the opportunity to continue to play soccer at a high level,” Owen Sobel ’24 said.

“This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts in one of the most unique and ecologically significant places in the world,” said Owen Sobel ’24, U.S. Fish & Wildlife biological technician at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

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