Carrie Nuva Joseph
Arizona State University
Flagstaff, AZ USA
"As long as you’re true to who you are and where you come from, then you’re going to be okay."
Career Roadmap
Carrie Nuva's work combines: Environment & Nature, Science, and Learning / Being Challenged
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
My community had high hopes for me but when I got pregnant, they assumed that was it for me. They expected me to just play a normal mother role with an 8-to-5 job. It was difficult for me to get over that because I still had high aspirations for myself.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Exercise Science
Northern Arizona University
Graduate Degree
Soil, Water, and Environmental Science
University of Arizona
Doctorate
Soil, Water, and Environmental Science
University of Arizona
Certification
Water Policy
University of Arizona
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born and raised on the Hopi Reservation.
2.
I played a lot of sports and was interested in health sciences in high school, so naturally I expected my career to involve sports or sports medicine.
3.
Thinking I wanted to become a physical therapist, I earned my bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Northern Arizona University.
4.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I realized I wanted to change paths and pursue environmental sciences instead—I come from a family of farmers and ranchers, and was inspired by that exposure.
5.
I went back to school and earned both my master’s and doctoral degrees in soil, water, and environmental science from the University of Arizona.
6.
Throughout my studies, I gained research experience working on a variety of environmental projects, specifically in regards to impacts on Indigenous Peoples, their landscapes, and water resources.
7.
I'm currently a postdoctoral scholar at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, where I use culturally-inclusive science to break inequities.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
We had high hopes for you but then you got pregnant, so your dreams have ended.
How I responded:
My community had high hopes for me but when I got pregnant, they assumed that was it for me. They expected me to just play a normal mother role with an 8-to-5 job. It was difficult for me to get over that because I still had high aspirations for myself.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Raising my daughter throughout my higher educational journey was challenging. I look back with some regrets but I just have to remember that I had to make some sacrifices while thinking about the bigger picture.