Chinese Minor Opens the Door to an Unexpected Career Path

A recent story in Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine (written by By Cody DeBos) highlights the journey of Lucas Lowenfish, an Asian Studies graduate and Chinese minor whose interest in language and culture led him to an unexpected passion for wildlife conservation.

Lowenfish came to CU Boulder with a background in Chinese language study and later participated in the Primates of Vietnam study abroad program. Through his knowledge of China and Asia, he developed a deeper understanding of the region's cultures, environments, and conservation challenges, inspiring him to pursue research on gibbon conservation in Southeast Asia. 

His experience shows how studying Chinese can open doors beyond traditional language-related careers. By building cultural competence and engaging directly with Asia through study abroad, Lowenfish discovered a new academic and professional path that has since led him to conservation research and a Peace Corps position in Madagascar.