In the decade since graduating from University of the Ozarks, Lauren Ray ’13 can appreciate even more the customized undergraduate education she received at the University.
Ray has worked for the National Park Service in a number of locations since leaving Ozarks, including Arches National Park in Utah, Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico, Buffalo National River in Arkansas, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. She currently works at Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico as a visual information specialist.
The environmental studies major credits her professors at Ozarks for providing her the skills and knowledge to pursue her dream job with the National Park Service.
“My professors and mentors at Ozarks helped me recognize academic and career pathways that wove together several of my interests — from marketing to media development to social science to the great outdoors,” Ray said. “As an environmental studies major, I had the opportunity to explore and experience the natural world through field work, study abroad programs, and extracurricular projects. This shaped my personal character, my career ambitions, and my professional network. The University faculty and staff invested greatly in me, and I continue to reap the rewards of the highly customized education I received at Ozarks.”
As visual information specialist, Ray’s responsibilities include developing creative media like web/smartphone app content, exhibits, signs, and brochures to educate the public about Valles Caldera National Preserve.
“In general business speak, I am a marketing specialist for national parks,” Ray said. “I enjoy coming up with creative ways to make public lands accessible, welcoming, and inspiring to all. The social science behind this career is also fascinating to me; one of my favorite things is witnessing changes in visitor patterns and behaviors after publishing or installing a new media product in the park.”
Ray has gained a bit of internet fame for her turning pop songs into conservation parodies and posting them online. It was 2016 when Ray, in her first year working on the Buffalo National River, said she “did a silly little rap song about karst topography.” Since then she’s done dozens of melodies on topics ranging from how to plan your trip to an update on items in the park’s lost and found, all the while garnering quite a social media following.
“So many people connect with music,” Ray told the Springfield News-Leader. “When I started doing these little music videos, I was spreading the word about important concepts on the Buffalo River in a creative way that more people were potentially going to hear and listen to, so basically, musical PSAs as a park interpreter.”
Ray later added that some of the most meaningful interactions with folks were because she started making music videos.
“People have told me that these videos have helped them and their friends and families make safer and smarter decisions on the Buffalo,” she said. “At the end of the day, park rangers want people to have a good time and feel inspired by their public lands while using them respectfully and responsibly.”
As a senior at Ozarks, Ray was named the recipient of the prestigious Hurie Award as the outstanding member of the 2013 class. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors, served as president of The Planet Club and Ozarks Outback and was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. She was also a program coordinator for the Ozarks Outdoors program and was a strong advocate for environmental issues on campus.
Topics: Alumni Stories