Maranda Walton

Tyson Administrative and Research Assistant

“I started at Tyson in 2011 working as a lab and field technician for a group from UMSL. We were doing decomposition studies here at Tyson. I was with that lab until they moved to George Washington University. In 2013 Jonathan Myers was just getting his lab at WashU started, so he asked me if I would like to help lead his lab. I was his lab manager and lead technician.”

So you've seen kind of both sides, right? Working with the forest team and now working at headquarters, do you have a different perspective about what goes on here?

“I do, I do. It takes a lot to keep this place running. And so now working in the administrative part of it, I see everything that goes into making the summer fellowships and the SIFT and TERA programs work, how they all relate and interact with all the other different levels of the community out here at Tyson.”

What do you think has been the most difficult thing for you working in this position?

“In my prior position with Jonathan, it was the terrain. Just being out on that terrain and being a full-time technician, being out there every day, almost all year long. It's very taxing on you. The terrain wears on you, there's always moments when you're miserable and climbing up a steep slope and then you look over and there's a turtle or there's deer running away or you just notice a certain species of tree blooming and you just get to pause and then that terrible moment isn't so terrible anymore.”

“The most difficult of the administrative aspect is trying to keep everyone happy. But it's well worth it. It's a well-oiled machine out here and it takes a lot to keep it running, but it's definitely worth it.”

Maranda has provided critical support to the busy Tyson community during summers 2018 and 2019.