Student veteran Max Tolstedt lands competitive national internship through Montana State environmental health program

BOZEMAN - Students in Montana State University's environmental health program bring with them diverse aspirations, from careers in toxicology and occupational health to risk assessment and geographic information systems, or GIS. A nationally accredited program in MSU's Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, the environmental health curriculum is designed to help students pursue any of those careers and more, and a current MSU senior is one step closer to his dream job after landing a competitive internship with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Max Tolstedt, who is originally from Billings, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2018 at the age of 25. After four years of service, he was honorably discharged in 2022, and during his last year in the Marines he worked on the safe handling of hazardous waste and materials for his battalion. That experience allowed him to gain extensive knowledge of federal environmental regulations and best practices for handling substances that may be harmful to human health. The work inspired him to enroll at MSU to continue his education.

"My love for Montana and the desire to be closer to family were key factors in my decision," said Tolstedt of his choice to attend MSU, adding that his older sister is an MSU graduate. "During my military service, I also took online classes through Montana State University Billings, which helped me stay connected to my academic goals. MSU was the perfect place to continue my education and transition into the next phase of my life."

In the fall of 2023, ahead of an annual career fair at MSU, a representative of the EPA reached out to Mari Eggers, associate program director for environmental health, to see if she thought any current students in the program might be a good fit for an internship. Eggers immediately thought of Tolstedt, both for the knowledge he had gained during his military service and his general motivation and academic ability.

"Max has a passion for environmental health law and regulation, and this year has given both his capstone seminar presentations on legal and regulatory topics," said Eggers. "He is personable, outgoing and truly enjoys talking with people from all kinds of backgrounds. He is so genuine, good-spirited and gracious. He puts people at ease right off the bat."

Tolstedt jumped at the chance to apply for a position with the EPA, and to Eggers' knowledge, he is the first MSU student to be accepted into the organization's Student Trainee program, which is geared toward university students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees with the aim of preparing them to potentially become permanent employees of the EPA.

In addition to balancing his academic workload at MSU with his position at the EPA, Tolstedt worked with MSU's Veteran Services office, connecting fellow student veterans to resources, carrying out administrative tasks and contributing to MSU's nationally recognized support for military students and their families. He called the environment and resources for veterans, along with the coursework in the environmental health program, highlights of his time at MSU. He is set to graduate in the spring of 2025 and hopes to transition from a student trainee with the EPA to a full-time employee.

"The versatility of the environmental health program was a major draw for me," he said. "I love how it prepares students for a wide variety of career paths within the field. While challenging, the program has been incredibly rewarding, keeping me engaged through its structure and the support from faculty."

From her perspective as Tolstedt's academic adviser, Eggers said he is primed for both success and continued impact wherever his career takes him. A commitment to service has been foundational for Tolstedt, and he said he looks forward to applying the same skills he fostered in the Marine Corps, blended with the comprehensive knowledge he has gained at MSU, in his future career.

"The experience has been fantastic," he said of his time with the EPA so far. "I appreciate being part of something that leads to real change, which has always been important to me. It would be an honor to continue serving the country, this time in a role that protects both people and the environment."