My Life at CSUMB: Diving into opportunity

By Mark Muckenfuss 

Annie Hansen never really thought of being a diver.

“It really scared me at first,” Hansen said. 

But as a marine science major at Cal State Monterey Bay, dropping beneath the waves of one of the world’s most dynamic underwater environments has become second nature. It has also provided great insight into university courses and research for Hansen, who uses they/them promouns.

“It’s given me a much better idea of how the ecosystems interact,” said Hansen, who uses they/them pronouns. “It’s way more complicated than you think.”

A Sacramento native, Hansen is preparing to enter a fourth year of study at CSUMB. They have already amassed an impressive resume of research experience that includes studying the decline in seagrass, arctic-water surface mixing as it relates to climate change, and developing a device for measuring light penetration underwater.

Recently, Hansen was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national award targeted at college sophomores and juniors in STEM fields.

They feel fortunate to be at CSUMB, where research is a regular part of the curriculum. 

“It’s kind of unheard of at a lot of other schools,” they said. 

Hansen also feels lucky to have found what has turned out to be a good fit. 

“I didn’t have much of a sense of direction coming out of high school,” they said. 

Although they’d done well senior year, they had struggled with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder throughout their school career and hadn’t focused on any course of action after graduation. They’d been inspired by a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium during grade school. But while marine science was interesting, they were equally drawn to art. In the end, the ocean won.

“I like being so close to the ocean,” Hansen said. “To learn about it in my classes and then go to the beach and see it in person has been a really cool experience.”

They also like being at a smaller university.

“I had heard about other students going to the UCs and having trouble with the size of the classes,” they said. “Being able to connect with my professors was a big selling point for me. Most of them know my name and will talk after class. I get to know about their career paths and their experiences. It really connects me to the course.”

Hansen has found a strong connection with classmates as well.

“I’ve met a lot of students who have similar interests to me, a lot of budding researchers,” they said. “It gives me a good community to lean on.”

After graduating from CSUMB, Hansen plans to pursue a master’s degree and PhD. They hope to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to study either ocean physics or marine engineering.

Between now and then, Hansen will undoubtedly spend plenty of time beneath the surface of Monterey Bay, a place they've come to appreciate not only for its natural environment but for the opportunities it has afforded. 

"I’ve had people invest in me,” they said. “A lot of my professors go the extra mile to get their students where they need to be. I can’t think of a better place for me to be.”

This story is part of an ongoing series. Find other stories here.