AmeriCorps Featured Member - Brandon

Brandon Bowman is an AmeriCorps member serving with the St. Joseph River Basin Commission (SJRBC) and a senior Biology major at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana. Brandon is a member of the biological monitoring team, which collects and identifies aquatic insects to lean information on water quality throughout the twelve tributaries of the St. Joseph River. The data collected is used to inform strategies aimed to protect our waterways so that they can continue to be a valued resource for both humans and wildlife. Brandon also helps to create and raise awareness of watershed and drainage issues. He has developed and delivered educational materials for local high schools and community programs. During the remainder of his service term, Brandon is focusing on promoting water resources education beyond South Bend. He will be putting his AmeriCorps Education Award to good use as he plans on furthering his education by pursuing a PhD in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Ecology.

How has service in the AmeriCorps program at MACOG and living in our region impacted your career aspirations?

“My AmeriCorps service with SJRBC has allowed me to pursue my professional aspirations and act as a pioneer of change across the Michiana area. My time with Holy Cross College and AmeriCorps has allowed me to grow as a person and a student in ways that I would never have imagined. While studying as an undergraduate, I rediscovered a love for the outdoors through several ecology courses which inspired the creation of the Common Home Group, a sustainably minded and community-oriented organization with the goal of supporting others as well as our natural environments.”

What continues to inspire you to serve in this role?

“My service with AmeriCorps has provided me with some of the most fulfilling moments I have ever had, and I am forever grateful for the Michiana Area Council of Governments, St. Joseph River Basin Commission, and the AmeriCorps at MACOG program for allowing me to pursue my dreams of serving in a field where I can aid in the protection of our natural resources in addition to educating the community on the importance of these resources and the impacts that they have on the world around them.”

If you or someone you know is interested in serving in the AmeriCorps program, please fill out our Interest Form!