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Amy Brock-Hon, ’02 MS Geoscience; ’07 PhD Geoscience, is an associate professor of geology and associate department head of biology, geology, and environmental science at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals on the subjects of soil mineralogy and soil development in arid regions like Nevada.

The advice I’d give myself as a new graduate … Understand that the learning isn’t over! What you learned in college is only the tip of the iceberg. College taught me how to think critically and to find good, solid information to solve problems. I was fortunate to get many years of problem-solving practice while earning my graduate degrees at UNLV.

Those skills have helped me to learn so much more after graduation, both as an instructor and researcher. As a professor, I am occasionally asked to teach a new class on a subject that is just outside of my specialty, or my research takes a path where I have to learn about new processes and new ideas. I must also learn how to use new technology and teach students how to apply that technology to solve problems.

If I decided to close my mind to learning — thinking that was all done in college — then I certainly wouldn’t get very far, my research wouldn’t advance, my students would get the short end of the stick, and I would quickly become irrelevant.

The Alumni Advice series is part of our special 2016 commencement week celebrations, which include the annual Alumni Association Awards Program on May 12, and the spring graduation ceremonies on May 13 and 14. Join us in congratulating our newest alumni on social media with #UNLVGrad.