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From the classroom to fieldwork, ¹ú²ú¶ÌÊÓƵ Judy Genshaft Honors College student Marza Hiatt has been making waves in sustainable tourism through an internship at ¹ú²ú¶ÌÊÓƵand collaboration with the environmental nonprofit (KPB).

Hiatt, a sustainability studies major with minors in environmental science and policy and urban studies at the St. Petersburg campus, enrolled in Dr. Brooke Hansen’s Honors course, Destination Stewardship. After completing the course, Hiatt secured an internship with Professor Hansen, which led to her presenting at Keep Pinellas Beautiful’s Better Boating Breakfast series at the Discovery Center. As an undergraduate assistant, Hiatt then collaborated with the KPB Hospitality Eco-Partnership Program to promote sustainable tourism concepts.

Inspired by her hometown in Pine Island, Florida, Hiatt is interested in investigating core sustainability efforts like renewable energy, conservation, preservation, recycling, composting, gardening, and tourism. Her long-term goal is to create a world that promotes environmental stewardship and equity to support a circular economy and healthy living for all. 

Upon completion of her internship, Hiatt shared her experiences and offered advice to ¹ú²ú¶ÌÊÓƵand Judy Genshaft Honors College students looking to make an impact.  

Q: What inspired you to take the Honors class Destination Stewardship with Professor Hansen, and how did the class help you grow professionally? 

My major is what inspired me to take the Honors class! I was so happy to see an Honors class so close to my passion was being offered. What is so great about the Honors college is that there are a multitude of different classes that are fit for anyone and their interests. It fosters an interdisciplinary environment that is key in educational and professional development. 

Q: How does the class relate to some of the strengths of the St. Petersburg campus? 

There is such a large emphasis on community on not just the St. Petersburg campus, but also the Honors College. What the St. Petersburg campus does really well is its promotion of a breakdown of barriers. While we are college students working on our education and attaining our degrees on a smaller campus, we are also a part of a large community beyond the classroom that can be found in the surrounding city. The Honors College on the St. Petersburg campus does an excellent job of breaking that barrier of classroom to community and immersing students into the real world, finding connections outside of the college itself, and working to create a common goal that many residents share. 

Q: What did you learn from the Keep Pinellas Beautiful collaboration? 

I always knew that getting people on board with sustainability can be difficult, but through this process, I learned that one of the most challenging parts is actually getting the audience to begin with. While we had a lot of success with the three events we hosted, we had some difficulty in the marketing process. KPB is really successful in their volunteer and clean-up programs, but since this is such a different program for them and their current audience, it was challenging expanding that in the beginning stages. What really makes an impact is directly speaking with the target audience – in this case marine tour operators – and telling them our goals, what our events are, and personally inviting them so they feel respected and heard in their concerns. 

Q: How did it feel presenting with Dr. Hansen at the Discovery Center? 

Dr. Hansen is a wonderful presenter and is so fun to present with! She really fosters a work environment in which all voices are heard and collaborative effort is prioritized. She made me feel completely comfortable and prepared to present. She is also a fierce advocate for education, which made the presentations that much more invigorating, not only for me as a fellow presenter, but also for our audiences.  

Q: What advice do you have for Honors students who are looking to make an impact? 

My main piece of advice for pretty much any student is to not be afraid to look stupid. Oftentimes, our fears are what hold us back from speaking up, asking questions, and contributing to things both inside and outside the classroom. Once I started working on the fear of looking stupid, I realized that there is so much benefit from contributing to conversations and projects. I also had a difficult time contributing in a room of professionals as a student. It can be challenging to find your place in something like this when you are a working college student, but it is so important to realize that we are all learning!