ALUMNI Program

Alumni Career Insight Sessions: Lindi Quackenbush (Kirby) Shares her Journey

 

Lindi Quackenbush (Kriby) – Class of 1989

 

Wangaratta High School was delighted to welcome back Lindi Quackenbush, a proud graduate of the Class of 1989 and DUX of her year level, during her recent visit from New York City, USA.

 

Lindi’s school days were filled with a love for maths, outdoor education, and sports like volleyball and hockey. After completing a combined degree in Science and Surveying at the University of Melbourne, she spent her fourth year on exchange at the University of Maine, where she discovered her passion for remote sensing—and met her future husband.

 

Now a Professor and Provost at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Lindi has built a remarkable career in academia, specialising in mapping, land surveying, and engineering design.

 

Career Insight Session – Thursday 24 July, 2025

 

During her visit, Lindi ran a masterclass on remote sensing for our Year 11 and 12 Specialist Maths and Physics students, hosted by Alumni Coordinator Megan De Fazio, alongside Mr Peter Breukers and Mr Timothy Butland.

 

Students explored how maps are used to study wetland patterns, and learned about Lindi’s current research into harmful algal blooms, including one affecting coastal areas in South Australia.

 

Lindi also shared insights into life in Deerfield, New York, where heavy snow can close schools, and spoke about her evolving roles at the University of Maine—from student to professor to head administrator.

 

Her message to students was clear:

“Follow your curiosity—it can take you across the world and into roles you never imagined.”

She encouraged students to embrace lifelong learning, sharing that her father has just taken up the flute—and jokes that she has “more degrees than a thermometer.”

 

One student stayed back after the session, inspired by Lindi’s journey and keen to pursue university studies in the US.

 

We thank Lindi for her generosity, wisdom, and inspiration. 💙💛

 

Megan De Fazio

Alumni Co-ordinator