Skip to main content
Penn State Altoona
Report a Concern Give Visit Apply
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Research and Engagement
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • New Student Orientation
    • Commencement
  • Admissions & Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • Admissions Overview
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Tuition and Financial Aid Resources
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Career Services
    • Eiche Library
  • Information For
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Current Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment Program
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Parents & Families
    • Professional Development
    • Visitors
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Altoona
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Leadership and Involvement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Internships
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
  • Research and Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame

Find Information For:

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • International Students
  • High School Dual Enrollment Program
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families
  • Professional Development
  • Visitors

Helpful Links

  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Calendar
  • Community Calendar
  • Student Success Center
  • The Help Tool
  • Faculty & Staff Directory
  • Offices and Divisions
  • Employment Opportunities

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • tiktok
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Bachelor's Degrees
  4. Environmental Studies
  5. Alumni Success Stories

Chastity Bey

Chastity Bey

From experience at a science and technology high school, to environmental educator with Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Chastity Bey, '17, didn’t skip a beat in taking every opportunity afforded her to land her dream job.

Bey’s path started out a little differently than many Environmental Studies majors. Although many come to the program with a passion for the natural world or high school experience that includes natural sciences or environmental clubs, Bey actually attended Science and Technology Academy, a public magnet school in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. There, she concentrated in Environment and Energy and her love and experience for the field grew over time.

During her sophomore year of high school, she participated in a program called High School Urban Eco-Steward, a Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy program. The following year, she went on to train with their summer camps. A few years after high school graduation, she returned as a camp counselor, just before seeking academic credit for the ENVBA program as a Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Buzzword Intern. Currently, Bey is in her second year as Community Nature Educator with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and she loves teaching children and the local community about the natural world around them. (Read the Pittsburgh Parks staff feature on Chastity)

When she first began college she chose to major in Environmental Systems Engineering but admittedly was struggling with the required math. It was then that she knew she needed to take a slightly different route. That’s when she transferred to Penn State Altoona, and into the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies program. The early semesters of the transition were tough but she speaks fondly of that time.

“My favorite memory is having the support of Angie Spagnoli (ENVBS ’17) my first semester at Altoona in chemistry 21. Being a transfer student with no chemistry background was hard and Angie [lent] a helping hand when I needed [it]. Also, Shannon Simpson’s (ENVBS ’17) support in biology was memorable. My entire time at Penn State Altoona I was playing catch up from starting at a different campus and Shannon and Angie made things easier for me by being supportive.”

When asked what her best piece of advice for a student currently working through the program, Bey offers, “The courses may not always be easy but in the end it’ll all make sense and be so worth it. Utilize [professor’s] office hours and other students in the class. I was a loner and didn’t always do this but when I did, it was very helpful. Don’t give up!”


Written by Erin Nachtman, ’10

Environmental Studies

  • Degree Options
  • Environmental Studies Minor
  • Seminar Forest
  • Fall 2025 Courses in Environmental Studies
  • Student Learning, Field, and Research Experiences
  • Career Opportunities
  • Connect with Alumni
    • Stay Connected with Environmental Studies
    • Get Involved
  • Alumni Success Stories
    • Courtney Bailey, '12
    • Dylan Dando, '14
    • Chelsea Burket
    • Chastity Bey
    • Garrett Harris
    • Jake Vaughn
    • Tyler Werner
    • Alex Patton
  • Environmental Studies Faculty and Staff

Suggested Academic Plans

Suggested Academic Plans (SAPs) are sample semester-by-semester guides you can use to meet degree requirements.

Environmental Studies SAPs for Prospective Students

  • View the SAP for the B.A. in Environmental Studies.
  • View the SAP for the B.S. in Environmental Studies.

Environmental Studies SAPs for Current Students

To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Apply to Penn State
Apply to Penn State
Visit Us In-person or Virtually
Schedule a Visit
The Help Tool
Connect with Student Resources

Student Success Center

Located in room 125 on the lower level of the Eiche Library, the Student Success Center supports two main functions:

  • To GET HELP for those students who need academic and non-academic assistance, and
  • To GET AHEAD for those students ready to take the next steps in their education.
Learn more about the Student Success Center

Out-of-Class Learning

Out-of-classroom academic experiences that complement in-class learning, including:

  • Study Away Programs
  • Academic Internships
  • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
Learn more about Out-of-class Learning

Notes from the Allegheny Front

An audio blog by Professor Todd Davis focussing on his ecological observations and experiences in the forests and on the streams of central Pennsylvania

Listen Now
Environmental Studies at Penn State Altoona

Penn State Altoona students awarded Student Engagement Network grants

Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • tiktok
Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Career Services
    • Eiche Library
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame
  • Stay Connected
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Offices and Divisions
    • Campus Calendar
    • PSUAlert Text Messaging Service
    • Penn State Altoona Connect
    • Penn State Go App
    • Penn State Student Engagement Network
Penn State University
3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601 814-949-5000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Directory
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State