The world of fungi first caught Ranger Woodland’s attention in the dorms. Little did he know then, it would become his career.
“My freshman RA posted an article about a company that grew meat out of mycelium, the root structures of fungus. I reached out and asked for an internship,” he said.
Meati Foods, the start-up company Ranger joined first as an intern, and now as a financial analyst, makes fungi-based proteins designed to look and taste like whole muscle meat.
Concerned about the environmental impacts of animal-based protein and the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, more people are turning to meat alternatives. It’s a cause Ranger is passionate about.
“I am ecstatic to be working for a company that embodies my deepest values. I do not think I would have found such alignment without the emphasis Leeds puts on values,” Ranger said.
Ranger cites the workshops around personal values and ethics hosted by the Scholars Program as key to that discovery.
“These workshops helped me narrow down what was important to me, while teaching the practical skills to pursue whatever that might be,” he said. “Personally, I learned I wanted to work towards a more sustainable future.”
Ranger graduated in May 2021 with an emphasis in finance, a math minor, and a certificate in quantitative finance.