PROFESSIONAL CAREERS 
Forestry and related fields. The image of the forester 
as a rugged woodsman riding guard on the National 
Forests is not an accurate picture today. Although 
outdoor work is still important, forestry today re- 
quires a combination of management, mathematics, 
engineering and human relations skills as well as 
professional forestry competence. At one time or 
another, a forester may specialize in timber manage- 
ment, range management, soil conservation, water- 
shed protection, wildlife, forest recreation, fire con- 
trol, and many similar tasks. A forester must develop 
many skills to help the Nation meet its needs for 
forest products and uses today, while at the same 
time ensuring through multiple use and sustained 
yield that these products and uses will be available 
in the future. 
Because of forestry’s reputation as a rugged pro- 
fession, most foresters in the past have been men. 
Today, the number of women pursuing this field is 
climbing steadily. 
Women are given the opportunity to compete with 
men for jobs on an equal basis. A woman hired as 
a forester will be expected to perform the same work 
a man would perform in the same position. Women 
are also moving ahead in the fields of range conser- 
vation, engineering, and landscape architecture. The 
door is open! 
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Melinda Jo McWilliams graduated cum laude from the Univer- 
sity of Georgia, where she majored in landscape architecture. 
She has always had a keen interest in the outdoors and 
conservation. These interests were the greatest influencing 
factors in her choosing landscape architecture as a career. 
Working with the Forest Service appealed to Melinda because 
it involves dealing with the natural environment—its design, 
management, and preservation. 
