Nate Begay
Master of Community and Regional Planning, 2019

How you describe who you are and the work you do?

I am the Public Lands Transportation Fellow at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque, NM. I graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2016 with a Bachelors in Environmental Planning and Design and a Masters in Community and Regional Planning in 2019. In addition to graduate school, I dedicated much of my professional career to working on public lands, including work with the National Park Service (Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Salinas National Monument) and with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (Steamboat Springs, CO) on their conservation corps youth crew. I am an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and a member of the Towering House Clan (Kinyaa'áanii), born for the Red Running into Water Clan (Táchii'nii) from Gallup, New Mexico

What are you working on now?

I have worked with Valle de Oro NWR on a variety of transportation related projects including assisting in planning the refuge trail network, collaborating with our refuge partners to generate a Refuge Access Plan which will guide future access projects. Overall, I pursue projects which will help create multi-modal connections to the refuge in order to create more equitable, accessible opportunities for the surrounding community to acquire access to greenspace.

What are your responsibilities in your position?

Primarily, I provide technical assistance to the refuge on projects related to transportation. Currently, this includes managing the trail planning process and writing a Refuge Access Plan with USFWS transportation division. In addition, I do a lot of research for the refuge, conduct outreach to partner groups, provide graphic design assistance, and assist in ArcGIS projects. In addition, I also contribute to the greater Public Lands Transportation Fellow program by assisting other Fellows with projects. 

What makes your work personally rewarding?

It is a pleasure working for Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge during a time of great transformation. Right now we're laying the groundwork for a refuge which will be an essential asset to the Mountain View neighborhood for generations. In addition, I have a great passion for trails and am incredibly excited to be a part of this planning process. I hope to continue working in trail planning and design as a career. 

How has your work impacted you and your community?

Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge strives to be a community asset and provide equitable access to greenspaces for folks in the Mountain View, South Valley, and Albuquerque area. The work we do not only contributes to community wellbeing, but also provides a space to deepen connections to green space. 

How has the CRP program prepared you for your career?