Student Spotlight: Matt Brousil

Matt Brousil, who graduated from Lyons Township High School, chose College of DuPage after receiving a scholarship to the Glen Ellyn institution.

During his time at COD, Brousil was a member of the Living Leadership Program, the Student Leadership Council and the Endowment for Future Generations.

"During my first year, I was just feeling my way around and getting a handle on the atmosphere," he said. "But I knew how important it was to get involved with other students and learn from their perspectives."

Brousil was equally impressed with his instructors, including Casey Slott, associate professor of Speech; Richard Jarman, professor of Chemistry; and Michelle Moore, professor of English. It was Moore who told him about Evergreen College in the state of Washington.

"She thought it was the perfect fit for me, so I visited and fell in love with it," he said. "She was the one who ultimately gave me the idea to explore environmental studies."

In 2011, Brousil earned an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science degree. He also was named one of the two Outstanding Graduates for 2011. In the summer of 2011, he worked as a seasonal camp writer/counselor at Fullersburg Woods Nature Center through the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

At Evergreen, Brousil is focusing his studies on Agroecology and sustainable agriculture in hopes of obtaining a bachelor of science or a dual BA/BS degree.

"I'm currently a farm assistant intern with a local organization in Olympia called Garden-Raised Bounty ("GRuB"), using this internship for academic credit," he said. "I'm also continuing my student leadership: I founded and am a current coordinator of Evergreen's Fencing Club, which is closing up its first full year."

Eventually he'd like to go into research and then teach.

"I want to pass along what I've experienced at COD," he said. "I want to help kids discover how exciting it can be to explore something in-depth and then turn it into something they can pursue in their lives."

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