Meet Taryn Oseen, a VetsWork intern with NOAA’s Restoration Center who embodies the mission of creating connections—between people, nature, and professional growth. As a Navy Veteran pursuing a career in environmental science, Taryn joined the program to gain real-world experience and close the gap between academic training and career readiness.
Taryn Oseen served as a Sonar Technician for the Navy for six years and it helped her find her passion.
“I started school while in the military and found something I was really passionate about,” said Taryn.
That something was environmental science.
After she graduated college Taryn took a job with an environmental testing company that was doing water and soil sample testing. She worked her way up in the laboratory until she became an Analyst. But then she hit a dead end.
“There was no real avenue for me to become a Project Manager because I just didn’t have the experience,” said Taryn.
“I feel like gaining experience is half the battle for people who are trying to enter the scientific field,” she added.
That’s when she hopped on Indeed and found MAI’s VetsWork AmeriCorps Internship program.
“It provided exactly the kind of experience that I was looking for,” said Taryn.
She was doubly excited to learn that not only would she be learning more about project management but she would also be returning to an area of study she had enjoyed in school: River and Salmon Habitat restoration.
Taryn’s internship has allowed her to gain experience in a wide variety of specialties, including project management, fieldwork, lab analysis for watershed programs, networking, and outreach.
The internship has also pushed her out of her comfort zone.
“I’m not a social butterfly, but I knew that for this program to be successful in itself and for me to have gained something from it, I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and reach out and try to do all of these things. And it makes a big difference. I mean, obviously I’m sitting here with you right now talking about this VetsWork highlight!” laughed Taryn.
“It makes a huge difference, making those connections, stepping outside of your comfort zone and just giving it a try because if you don’t you won’t get anywhere new.”
When asked if she felt that her experience had boosted her confidence, she smiled, “Yeah, I think so!”
As Taryn’s internship progresses she is continuing to push herself to grow past her comfort zone, making strategic moves to improve her career outlook and gain vital experience. She even recently represented NOAA at a dam removal conference and Tacoma Ocean Fest, helping build connections with potential partners.
“Sometimes, staff at the Restoration Center don’t have the time to step out and share their work. I’ve been able to help give their efforts a face and a voice in the community,” she explained.
Taryn also emphasized the importance of the symbiotic relationship between MAI, NOAA, and VetsWork interns.
“I’d like to say too that the symbiotic relationship between the Restoration Center and an intern is really important,” said Taryn. “Not only is it good for the intern gaining all those experiences, but it also helps the Restoration Center.”
Indeed, during her time at the Restoration Center she has worked with Northwest Fishery Science Center to support their watershed program, helped track restoration efforts, volunteered her time to help with habitat recovery, designed training infographics, and provided lab demonstrations for educational purposes.
A Special Note from Mt. Adams Institute:
Taryn has been an incredible intern through and through. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, capable, and strategic program manager, you should hire her!
We also want to thank Taryn and all our VetsWork interns—past, present, and future.
Taryn’s experience is a shining example of how VetsWork empowers Veterans to improve their career outlooks through professional growth. It also reflects MAI’s larger mission to support Veterans and restore natural ecosystems.
These opportunities are only possible with the support of donors like you.
As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to join our end-of-year giving campaign. Your gift helps provide Veterans like Taryn with the tools to succeed and empowers them to make a difference in the world.
Donate today to be a part of this vital work. Together, we can continue creating pathways for Veterans to serve their communities and the natural world.
