Meet Nathan Oswald from Taos, NM. He graduated from Farmington High School in 2001, spent two decades as a whitewater raft guide, and now attends UNM-Taos. He was awarded a Career Pathways Scholarship to study Pre-Science.
“I am working towards a degree to be better able to find a permanent career in natural resource management in my lifelong home of Northern New Mexico.”
Fun Fact! Nathan’s wife ran for Mayor of Taos and he was the assistant manager of her campaign.
“I must admit that my proudest moments are with my marriage and family life.”
While his wife was not elected Mayor, Nathan has much appreciation for his time spent on the campaign trail. “We are quite proud of the meaningful and robust engagement of diverse issues that we were able to further,” he said. “While I am unsure what future involvement with politics I will have, the experience has continued to generate robust personal relationships with other community leaders, important discussions, and opportunities for future leadership and service positions.”
Nathan spends his summers working as a temporary seasonal ranger with the Taos field office of the Bureau of Land Management. As a BLM River Ranger, he instructs swift water rescue techniques to federal employees, and teaches best practices around rivers and backcountry settings.
“I am committed to preserving and protecting the public land, which I have had a strong connection to my entire life, for future generations of Americans.”
Nathan is also a volunteer docent and collections technician at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, which is dedicated to celebrating the arts and cultures of the Southwest. “It has been very gratifying to work with local students in studying and exploring local history and heritage,” Nathan said.
Nathan says that returning to school after working for 20 years has been financially challenging and that he is very grateful for the financial aid he’s received.
“It has not been easy becoming a college student at almost forty years old, but I am proud of my accomplishments. The biggest challenge that I have faced is keeping up with the rising cost of living, especially as a renter.”
After receiving his Associate’s Degree, Nathan hopes to attend New Mexico Highlands University to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Geology with a focus on water resource management.
