Michelle Schuman is an environmental scientist with over four decades of experience in Alaska working for the federal government, state government, and the private sector. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and Range Science, a minor in Soil Science and a Master’s in Environmental Policy and Wetland Restoration. Schuman is a certified Senior Ecologist and Professional Certified Wetland ScientistSchuman is credited with writing hundreds of technical documents, including the Wetland Functional Assessment Guide for Alaska. But her greatest and hardest, accomplishment was a first responder on the Exxon Oil Spill analyzing one of the most devastating and long-term human caused disaster in North America.She resigned from federal service in 1987, expanding her professional career into private consulting and state government in wetland science and oil spill response.In October 2020, she began writing her memoir, The Understory: A Female Environmentalist in the Land of the Midnight Sun. A year later, she signed an option agreement with HTWIP Productions for a screenplay.4:26 I am 66 now.  I was born in a small, rural town in eastern Washington, where I was free to explore the basalt cliffs and sagebrush fields. After receiving my undergraduate degree in wildlife biology, range management, and soil science, I married my soulmate, whom I met working in the Blue Mountains of Oregon.4:44 Our adventure took us to California, where my husband was a mechanical engineer; and Nevada, where I tracked wild horses. And then, I was offered a position in Alaska, working with reindeer and muskox. We thought it destiny, as his company also had a position in the same state and the same city, Anchorage. Early on in our Alaskan dream, my husband Rick was killed in a traffic accident.5:01I was working in the bush at the time and found out through a one way radio  what happened. I  sat on the ground for about 6 hours. That is all in my book ...5:19 This led me down this path of realizing how short life can be -and to try to never regret and look back. See the complete transcript at Treesmendus.com