UND student finds unique opportunity and support

As a high school junior and senior, Rebecca Seemann had taken classes at a community college and already racked up an impressive 87 credits and two associate degrees before coming to UND. Ultimately, every credit transferred, Seemann said, leaving her with only the chemical engineering-specific courses to take.

The program is the perfect catalyst, Seemann says, for turning her talents, background and interest in the natural world into a rewarding career. “I really love the environment, and I want to preserve it,” she said. “The cool thing about chemical engineering is you can go anywhere and do anything. UND’s instructors and advisors are incredible. They’ll work with you and tailor your courses to your own unique career goals. That’s kind of their trademark.”

After she was enrolled at UND, Seemann said her professors were accommodating again when she was offered a six-month internship at Boise White Paper in International Falls, Minn. “Before I could accept, I needed to know if it was going to work out with my classes,” she said. “I asked three different instructors, and they all came back with the same answer: ‘We’ll work with you. Don’t worry about it. We want you to have this great opportunity.’”

And she’s glad she did, because it was an internship like no other. Seemann quickly proved she could fill the shoes of full-time employees on the environmental team.

Read more of Rebecca’s story and other inspiring leaders in action.