The following material is from alumnus Michael Neal Arnold (BA, Geography, UCSB, 1974) who generously agreed to write a brief article about the impact that a degree in Geography had on his life:
My first academic exposure to Geography was in an undergraduate history class. The professor was a newly minted PhD in Geography. He had been roped into teaching a lower division U.S. History survey class. He presented the material from the perspective of a Geographer. He taught history as the unfolding story of the relationship between humans and their environment. Politics, wars, population movement, expansion of cities – an awful lot of history can be seen as directly related to Geography. I’m not sure what most of my peers thought of the class, but I found the approach fascinating.
As a result of the above experience (and an innate interest in maps), when the time came to declare a major, I went with Geography. This was in the early 70’s before there was even a Geography Department at UCSB. We were simply a small sub-section in Letters and Science. There were four or five professors – none of whom were tenured. My interest was in urban and regional studies. In addition to Geography classes, I took related offerings in History, Economics, and even Biology. Somehow, they all more-or-less fit together; I was actually acquiring a useful body of knowledge. I wasn’t alone; most of the students on paths similar to mine were headed into urban planning.
My senior year, I had a work-study job helping an Assistant Professor with research projects. We were not all that far apart in age. I was married with a small child and really anxious to get on with my life. The young professor was unsure if academia was really for him. We spent coffee breaks talking about our futures. At some point, he told me about an appraiser he knew. He thought my interests and academic background might be a good fit for appraisal. As a result of his referral, I interviewed with a Santa Barbara appraisal firm and was offered a part-time internship. By the time I was graduating, I had decided to pursue professional certification in appraisal. (The assistant professor went on to a career in environmental assessment for an international corporation.)
I am now a partner in the firm where I started. I hold certification with the State of California (CREA), the Appraisal Institute (MAI), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS). My practice involves evaluations used for tax planning, assessment appeals, litigation support, damage assessments, mortgage underwriting, expert witness testimony, easement and lot line disputes, owner decision making, and other applications. My clients include non-profits, corporations, lending institutions, legal and accounting firms, investors, and others. I have valued lavish residential estates, iconic historic properties, major commercial properties, cattle ranches, vineyards, schools, churches, a broccoli processing plant, a “gentlemen’s club”, a hot springs spa, and other one-of-a-kind holdings. Not only did my majoring in Geography lead me into the appraisal profession, it also provided an invaluable foundation for an interesting and rewarding career.
Editor’s note: Michael recently posted an opening for an Intern with UCSB Career Services, looking for applicants with a “Good academic background [that] includes geography, economics, architecture, planning, construction management, pre-law, etc. Helpful skills include computer, familiarity with land use issues and dynamics, economic principles, ability to read plans, writing/composition, math, etc.” In an email to the editor, he went on to comment that, “As a UCSB Geography alumnus, I am partial to the background that can come with the Geography major.”
