INTRODUCING KEEFER Gank
World Changer
About Me
My name is Keefer Gank, I am 24 years old, and I have earned a Bachelors in Natural Resources Conservation at the University of Florida. I have extensive knowledge on landscape design and maintenance as well as plant science and care through my Environmental Horticulture minor. During my most recent internship, I worked on sustainable trail construction in the Allegheny National Forest. Conservation, climate change, and sustainability on an international scale have been my major focus in my coursework.
I am incredibly passionate about conservation and hope to, after college, travel the world working conservation projects in vulnerable communities with the peace corps. I was fortunate enough to volunteer in Madagascar performing forestry and species population analysis. Pursuing fulfilling work like I did in Madagascar has become my drive in life. I love being able to talk to and engage with new people. I want to help the world learn about and fight unsustainable practices and the negative impacts of climate change.
Education
2015-2017
Natural Resources Conservation
University of Florida
Minor: Env. Horticulture
Due to my internationally focused curriculum, I received a medallion for international studies in addition to my Bachelors. Some of the highlights of my major is anthropological case studies, forest management, and dendrology.
2011-2014
Plant Science
Spec. Landscape Design
Valencia College
My initial educational goal was in Landscape Architecture, so my Associates Degree is in Plant Sciences, with a specialization in Landscape Design. Some of the highlights of this major include plant ID, botany, and soil sciences.
Professional Work
2022
Allegheny National Forest Intern
Student Conservation Association
U.S. Forest Service
Over the summer, I had an internship with the SCA at the Allegheny National Forest. Our main project was constructing over 6,500 ft. of mountain biking trail. We also built signs, scouted downed trees, and botanized native endangered plants.
2021-2023
Kids Nite Out
Event Childcare Staff
Setting up activities and leading vacationing kids 5-17 on field trips while parents are away. This involved being a leader during trips to destinations and being a counselor while the kids stayed at the hotel.
2019
GreenSky Growers
Greenhouse Internship
While studying at Valencia, I had an internship at a rooftop aquaponics and hydroponics greenhouse. I learned how to care for the fish, apply fertilizers and pesticides, and grow hydroponic produce for nearby businesses.
Additional Skills
Adaptability: No matter the environment, I can make the best of every scenario. I will find myself in many different environments in my future travels and I know that I am well equipped to face these changes.
Open Mindedness: I love learning about other people and seeing from other points of view. Learning and growing my mind is something I take pride in.
Communication: I am able to converse with anybody and create an understanding that helps progress our narrative. Communication is key to reaching international communities and one of the best ways to fight climate change.
Education Portfolio
Language Learning
While studying at both Valencia College and the University of Florida, I was able to learn how to speak conversational Spanish. Through this I have seen how important language learning is to a persons development. I have also witnessed how much stronger of a connection you can experience when you are able to speak to someone in their native language.
Madagascar
In 2020, I took a life changing trip to Northern Madagascar. I was a volunteer in the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute (MRCI). We conducted many projects during my time. There was never a boring moment. I even learned some of the language, Malagasy. During this great adventure, I realized my love for meaningful field work. Community based conservation work stole my heart and I changed my major from Plant science to Natural Resources Conservation with as much international learning as I could get.
Here are some of the projects that we worked on in Madagascar.
Madagascar
My First Time Out of the United States
After the trip to Madagascar, I realized my purpose. Looking out on the ocean from the top of a mountain on Nosy Komba, thinking about where I’ve come from and my experience in Africa, I knew that I had to do more of this type of service. Since then, I have focused on international studies and the conservation of natural resources.
"Mora Mora" (Slowly Slowly)
Malagasy Saying
NaviGators
While studying at the University of Florida I had the great opportunity to be an American Mentor for Indian Exchange Students. I was able to introduce them to the United States and they introduced me to so much of their culture.
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​India was always a country that was not on my radar at all. It did not seem like an appealing place to go as India is often portrayed as heavily impoverished or under political turmoil. However, since meeting my mentees, I have learned so much about India and how vastly diverse their culture is. Just between the two mentees that I had, Amit from the North and Nikhil from the south, I could see how differently they lived in India based on their cultures and beliefs. There is a very enchanting tradition that Indians practice that I wish was more common in the U.S. The Himalayas hold many monasteries for worship and meditation and it is common and acceptable for someone that is stressed or needs a mental health day to go to the monasteries in the mountains and meditate for a few days. This is also free. India has become a place I want to visit and experience in the near future. I am very grateful to have made friends and learned so much from students from other countries.
What is There to Learn
After my journey with the University of Florida and my experiences with international work thus far, I have had the pleasure of learning so much about the world and how I can make a difference in it. When I started at UF, my plan was to work in greenhouses, producing sustainable agricultural products. This all changed after my trip to Madagascar. I began to learn about how huge the world is and how deeply lifestyles and cultures can be different, and how much more there is to learn from people all over the world. Through this I have become more interested in learning from different people, building connections with local communities, and using our understanding of the natural world to change the way we extract resources from it.
The best way to fight climate change (or any battle) is through education. Educating yourself is the first step toward making true change. After volunteering in Madagascar, I began to realize how much there is to learn and do in the world. People across the globe are so different and interesting. There is a real problem in the United States with xenophobia that can be cured simply by learning about the differences around the world. For example, there is a misconception that India is a poor, dirty country, without proper laws and regulations. However, much of the country is not the way it is depicted in American media. There are bad parts of India just like there are bad parts of the U.S. Presence of poverty should not deem a countries culture and skills any less valuable. As a citizen of the land of opportunity, I have the luxury to learn about the world and all its complex systems and change things, change the way I think and relate to the world. Then I can share that knowledge with others as well.
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Working with local communities across the globe is an important part in correcting our relationship with the natural world. One of the most important things I have learned through all of this is that there is no one way to do things. The things we do in the United States are not necessarily the best practices for every other country in the world. Every country, every ecosystem, needs its own specific care that can only come from local communities. Working alongside people at a local scale is a critical part of resource management and this is the part of my future that excites me the most.
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My unique background with plant science and natural resources conservation has changed the way I look at the planted world. There are many issues with the way humans interact with the environment. Much of what I have studied has indicated that, in the United States’ economy, if a piece of land is not creating revenue, money, it is not a useful piece of land. This is an unacceptable way to relate to the environment. Every ecosystem, community, species, and individual have intrinsic values beyond monetary benefit. Despite knowing the services that different ecosystems provide to the world, we are still demolishing the environment at an unsustainable rate. We must learn how to extract our resources and how to coexist in our environments. There are many agricultural techniques and technologies that are proven to increase yields and decrease impact. The main issue is lack of implementation and initial investment. I am excited to have the opportunity to share my knowledge with the world and begin taking steps toward a more sustainable society.
I look forward to my future in international work and study. I have learned a lot and anticipate learning more about the following things. Educating yourself and having an open mind when exploring new culture is so important to developing yourself. Creating lasting connections with local communities is essential to making true difference in the world. Finally, the world is huge and ever changing, technology is advancing, and climate change is running rampant. We have the skills and knowledge to make these changes, it is just a matter of sharing that knowledge and putting it into practice. I think that my whole life has been leading me to this kind of work, to change the world at large, and I believe I have found my purpose.
