Kevin Bock ✧ ’19 B.S. Biology
Grad Becomes Wildlife Biologist and Bee Expert
By Pamela Dean
Wildlife biologist Kevin Bock is one of Southern California’s leading experts on bumble
bees. But it was only by chance that he discovered his fascination with the buzzing
insects.
“When I was attending CSUCI, I was a big Dungeons and Dragons fan,” Bock explained,
referring to the popular table-top, role-playing game. “My friends and I would really
immerse ourselves. We had Viking helmets, costumes, and would drink mead.”
Mead is an ancient style of wine made from honey that the characters in the fantasy
game drank to celebrate their victories. Bock was taking organic chemistry at the
time and decided to explore making the wine himself.
“But honey is expensive,” Bock said. “I saw that CSUCI offered a beekeeping course,
taught by Biology Professor Ruben Alarcón, and thought it would be an easy way to
get honey and learn about bees.”
He didn’t let his fear of the stinging creatures get in his way.
“The first time I went out into the bee yard, I was very nervous,” Bock recalled.
“I put my suit on and made sure there were no holes in it. I was one of the last students
to go out. I felt the bees crawling on me. They were on my veil and on my shoulders.
It took a few times out in the yard, but slowly my fear died down and my curiosity
started to grow. After a few weeks, I would look at those fuzzy little bees and just
fell in love with them.”
The Agoura High School graduate began attending CSUCI in his mid-twenties, choosing
to return to college because he wanted to contribute more to the world than what he
felt was possible in his job as a file clerk in a workers’ compensation law office.
“I hit a wall one day and decided I really needed to do something else,” Bock said.
“Biology spoke to me the most. I loved life sciences. As a kid, my parents would take
me camping and backpacking. I am a hiker and a birdwatcher. Exploring the living world
really spoke to me. I knew I needed to do something that my heart could follow.”
In addition to learning beekeeping skills, Bock, who graduated in 2019, credits the
mentoring, guidance and knowledge of apiculture he received from Professor Alarcón
with helping him to land his current job. As a wildlife biologist for Sentinel Science,
he assists utility companies to avoid harming California’s endangered native bee population
during maintenance and construction projects. He also advises on wetlands and wildlife
conservation.
“I am not sure how I would have gotten this far without Dr. Alarcón,” said Bock. “He
was able to recognize and nurture my excitement and enthusiasm. He was the first person
in my adult life who really encouraged and listened to me and directed me toward opportunities.
The first job out of college that I was able to get was through helping and volunteering
with him.”
Bock now provides that same guidance and mentoring to other CSUCI students, returning
each year as a volunteer to help teach the beekeeping class and guide students into
jobs in the biology field after graduation.
“Kevin is a great role model,” said Alarcón. “He exemplifies that it is possible to
go from student to leader, and shows students that what they are learning in school
can be applied to the real world.”
“The best feeling I get is seeing the new faces of these young people interested in
caring for such extraordinary animals,” said Bock. “It’s more important than ever
to get students and the public educated about the environmental concerns that we face
today. The beekeeping class provides a window into those challenges.”>> Visit go.csuci.edu/ch-bock to view a video of Kevin and the bees.