Anna Bebbington conducted research on small-scale agriculture in Peru during her undergraduate studies, an experience that fueled her desire to go to graduate school.

“To work in the field of international development more broadly, I needed quantitative skills to complement my qualitative research abilities,” she says. “I had gone into farming communities in the Andes and talked with people about change, but I didn’t have a way of putting numbers to their stories.”

Bebbington was familiar with Clark; both her parents were professors at the university and had spoken highly about the Geographic Information Science (GIS) program. After investigating coursework details and post-degree career path opportunities, Bebbington decided Clark would be a good fit.

“One of the great things about the GIS master’s degree at Clark is that you can audit or take departmental courses that are not technically GIS classes but provide valuable context for your degree,” she says. “That gave me more confidence moving into the field.”

Anna Bebbington says the impact of her Clark education extended well beyond the classroom. “The professors create opportunities for you to contribute to their research and participate in field experiences that help you stand out when you are applying for a job,” she says. Bebbington adds that her internship with Conservation International was among her most important learning experiences.

“I was able to create all the maps and do all the science communication based on my preparation at Clark the year before. I realized I could do the work that I wanted to do, which was a great feeling.”

Experiential learning was vital to Bebbington’s education at Clark. “My internship with Conservation International was wonderful,” she says. “It provided context for the kind of GIS work I wanted to do, which focuses on land rights and applied outcomes in conservation and tying together academic and policy-oriented work. It also gave me a strong set of mentors outside of the university.”

Bebbington sees a clear through line from her Clark master’s degree to her current work as a Senior Spatial Analyst at Earth Insight. “Clark professors create opportunities for you to contribute to research and participate in field research that end up helping you stand out when you are applying for a job.”