Outdoor Adventures coordinator Hannah Doss has revitalized the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ program in less than a year, and is most happy sharing her love of nature with others. She’s ready to lead you on a surfing or kayak trip!
Why 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ?
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ came highly recommended to me by two professional campus recreation staff that I worked with at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I came to the interview, and fell in love with the culture of the staff here at the rec center. They were so kind and genuine. I was also thrilled about re-starting the Outdoor Adventure program — a blank slate is so exciting
​What about 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ strikes you as different from other places you have ​worked or where you went to school?
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ is different from where I’ve worked in the past because the campus recreational staff really put the students’ academics first. We always try to make very intentional decisions to better the student growth experience.
Where did you grow up and what was that like?
I grew up in the alluring countryside of Virginia near the Appalachian Mountains. We had horses that we would trail ride as a family through the wooded mountains. We had a three-acre pond that we would raise ducks on. We also had swans we took home from the Roanoke Wildlife Rescue. For fun, I would kayak the swift rivers with my friends and tailgate in the back of big muddy trucks. I miss the sound of crickets that chirp as you drive the curvy back roads at night and the smell of fresh-cut grass.
What is your current job title and what are a few of your duties?
I am the program coordinator of Outdoor Adventures. I plan outdoor multi-sport trips that are open to students and the community. Just this past year, I’ve taken groups climbing at Red Rock Canyon, canoeing through Black Canyon on the Colorado River, and whale watching and surfing in Santa Monica. I also run an outdoor equipment rental program — so if you ever choose to go on your own adventure, we can outfit you!
What inspired you to get into your field?
My sister and my love for the outdoors. My sister is the program coordinator of outdoor recreation at Georgia State University and she is the one who showed me that this could actually be a career. She taught me how to get a graduate assistantship in outdoor adventure, and how to make myself a desirable candidate by getting my wilderness first responder certification. She showed me the way to make my passion my career, and I will be forever thankful!
What is the biggest challenge in your field?
My biggest challenge is predicting the unpredictable. I really have to be on top of my game in order to plan these trips and execute them successfully. I have to not only be detail-oriented in the planning and delegation process, but also when I’m out in the field with my participants. I must be in tune with their needs and be ready for everything from medical emergencies to a quick turn to plan B.
Finish this sentence, "If I couldn't work in my current field, I would like to..."
Be a commercial pilot for international long-haul flights… or Bear Grylls.
​Tell us about a time in your life when you have been daring.
I’ve taken several chances in my career history. I’ve taken two jobs where I’ve had to move cross-country and leave everything I’ve ever known. I’ve never regretted being daring. It’s brought me to where I am today.​
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I was an international flight attendant and used to fly to Europe twice a week. I also drove my own motorcycle for six years.
What books do you have on your bedside table?
Wildcare: Working in Less than Desirable Conditions and Remote Emergencies by (Frank) Hubbell, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West by (Gregory) Tilford, and Alphonse Mucha: Masterworks by (Rosalind) Ormiston.
Tell us about an object in your office that has significance for you and why.
I have a sculpture in my office that is the most thoughtful gift I have ever received. It depicts a mother manatee and her two babies swimming in a swirl of seaweed, where little fishes hide. A stand-up paddle (S.U.P.) board balances above them, like it’s floating on the surface of the water. My boyfriend, Alex, and I went to Crystal River in Florida in February, when the manatees swim into the springs because the springs are warmer than the ocean. We S.U.P. boarded together and spotted a mother manatee and her two babies. Alex sculpted it himself and gave it to me for my birthday.
