Alumni Spotlight: Shani Kruljac

Shani (B.A. '99) is a current graduate student at UF, working on her masters in Urban and Regional Planning with a certificate in Latin American Studies. Shani plans to graduate in December and remain in the Gainesville area until her daughter finishes high school. This past year she received a FLAS fellowship to study Portuguese while studying aboard and conducting research in Brazil.

Shani also works as a research associate with the College of Engineering's Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. She is currently conducting a feasibility study for a potential waste management regionalization project involving 15 North-central Florida counties.

What was the most valuable aspect of your SNRE degree?
"The interdisciplinary nature of the coursework. This perspective has allowed me to see and move around within the bigger picture, not boxing me into one specific area of specialization. The freedom of being a generalist suits my curious nature, enabling me to be involved in vastly different projects as they present themselves or as they pique my interest. Most importantly, I know I can follow most any path I choose...and I don't need 15 degrees to do it!"