Whether attending Iowa City Council meetings for a class, collecting native seeds in nature preserves, or helping with a prescribed burn, Hartman found that learning outside the classroom brought her studies to life.

She also found her people through clubs such as Iowa City Integrated Geography Organization (ICIGO) and the Campus Activities Board, and even on the intramural softball field. 

“You meet with these like-minded people who have the same hobbies, the same passions as you,” she says. “And you really begin to broaden and deepen your own passions.”

Hartman credits Adam Skibbe, senior Geographic Information Systems (GIS) administrator and adjunct instructor in the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, for broadening her view of what her future could look like. Hartman already was doubting her choice of biochemistry when she took Skibbe’s Introduction to Sustainability class.

“The content and his teaching style were very engaging. It gives students real-life, hands-on experience with GIS applications to support projects focused on sustainability in the community and state,” Hartman says. “I sent him an email and set up a meeting, and he took me under his wing. He helped me realize my true interests, and I changed my major during my second year.

“I’ve always known that his office door is open to me — whether I need help with GIS lab, want to use equipment, or I just want someone to talk to. I can’t even express how grateful I am for him for these past two and a half years.”

Skibbe says Hartman’s a thoughtful and strong student. 

“She's very good at tackling each challenge and always responds with a levelheaded approach. With her work ethic and attitude, she'll succeed at whatever she does in her future. She'll be great at it.”

This fall, Hartman will graduate with degrees in environmental policy and planning, and political science, plus a certificate in sustainability. Next up: The LSAT and a future in environmental law — she hopes to champion environmental justice and drive sustainable change.

“You’re never truly alone at Iowa,” Hartman says. “There’s this great balance between world-class resources and opportunities and still feeling like everyone is really invested in you. Whether it’s your professor reaching out to invite you into their research, or when you’re on vacation wearing black and gold and someone stops you and says, ‘Hey, go Hawks.’ It’s true — once you’re a Hawkeye, you’re always a Hawkeye.”

Why did you choose to come to Iowa? 

Growing up, I was always a Hawkeye. I'd watch Hawkeye football with my dad all the time. He's also big into wrestling, so we'd watch a ton of Hawkeye wrestling. 

My sister graduated from the College of Nursing in 2022. Every time we came to visit her, going to football games with her and going to downtown restaurants, I would fall more in love with campus and the University of Iowa. Then, as I was doing research on the programs and research opportunities they have, I realized that it was the place for me. 

What are some of your earliest memories on campus? 

I was an honors student, so I moved into the residence hall a week early and took part in Honors Primetime. Along with learning about the Honors Program and making great connections with students and faculty, it includes workshops on a bunch of different topics. I chose psychology of food. At the end of our session, we did a taste testing tour of downtown restaurants, which was a fun way to start exploring the area and meet new people.

What surprised you the most about the University of Iowa? 

It was surprising that a place this huge really cares about you. I remember calling up my sister at the beginning of my first year and asking, “Hey, what did you do to find your place?” She told me to join a few clubs. I did and then started to realize I was seeing the same faces on campus! There are so many opportunities and resources for you to make connections because everyone here wants you to succeed.

What provided you with the greatest sense of belonging while at the University of Iowa?

Finding my passions and finding ways to pursue them. I joined the Campus Activities Board and I found a lot of people who have similar interests and really want to be involved on campus. I also joined ICIGO, a club that works with the GIS lab and communities across Iowa. You meet with these like-minded people who have the same hobbies, the same passions as you, and you really begin to broaden and deepen your own passions. 

What did you get out of your Iowa experience that you don’t feel you would have gotten elsewhere?

There are a lot of unique opportunities to get hands-on experiences — going beyond just the material in the classroom. I think that's something that I wouldn't see myself doing at other universities. 

A lot of my classes were tied to Iowa City or surrounding communities. I had a class where we attended city council meetings to hear from residents about problems or challenges they were facing. We would brainstorm potential solutions that we presented to the city council. 

Another class held labs at Hickory Hill Park or Macbride Nature Recreation Area. We'd work on plant identification, invasive species removal, and collecting native seeds. We even helped with a prescribed burn.

What is one of the most valuable things you learned?

My time here taught me that I need to be authentic and push myself out of my comfort zone to really grow. We have access to so many unique resources here. If I hadn’t taken advantage of that, I wouldn’t have had any of the experiences that have made me who I am. 

Is there anyone you’d like to thank? 

I would like to thank my mom and my dad. They are so supportive of me, and if I didn't have them in my corner, I'm not sure I would have made it through college. They received quite a few meltdowns over the phone, but they always pick up still when I call them. Extra thanks to my mom — she proofreads all my essays. So, I bet she's glad to be done with that. 

My wonderful roommates. My older sister for going out of her comfort zone and showing me that I'm able to do it as well, and my younger sister for being there whenever I need her. And just all my friends and the community I've created in Iowa City. I truly couldn't have done it without any of them.