Macky Hecox ’18

Environmental Science

Biography

Here is a little about me! I grew up in Madison, IN as a true river rat. While at Taylor University, I double majored in Environmental Science and Public Health. Upon graduating from Taylor, I accepted a position with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in the Office of Air Quality in the Permitting Branch. I recently made a lateral move to the Office of Water Quality in the Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch. I now participate in water quality sampling studies, and I love it! I am currently in the process of obtaining my Master’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. When I am not working or studying, I am spending time outdoors, enjoying the company of friends and family, reading, or caring for my many plant babies.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

My most valuable experiences at Taylor revolve around the many opportunities I had to grow spiritually. These experiences came from attending chapels, participating in corporate worship, seeking discipleship and mentorship, and simply living life with the people God placed around me.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

My last couple of years at Taylor proved to be very challenging. I was undergoing personal struggles and grief due to the multiple deaths of loved ones. I experienced the Lord's gracious love, specifically through my professors and my friends during this time. They carried me to the graduation finish line in a way I will forever be grateful. I experienced the Lord's love because of those people and how they cared for me.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

I think Taylor provides a unique skill set to its students. I feel equipped to pursue advancement in my career, but also to pursue people for God's Kingdom. My career has become a vehicle to share the Lord's love with those around me. This is how the integration of faith and learning affected me the most.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

I would challenge any Taylor student to start seeing their ultimate calling as a faithful response to God Himself. There may be times when the Lord reveals to you the exact path He desires you to follow. However, I have found that most of life's choices do not seem to be that clear. There will be gray areas that can make us truly uncomfortable. These gray areas are opportunities for us to learn how to keep trusting in the Lord as we take steps forward in faith. These choices of trust build a foundation in the Lord. This foundation will not falter when storms come. As you move forward in your trust, He will surprise you by His faithfulness!