Thomas Levendusky is one of LHU's first Environmental Studies minors

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Thomas Levendusky and Professor Bob Myers

LOCK HAVEN, PA (12/19/2011)(readMedia)-- On December 17, two students became the first graduates of the new Environmental Studies minor at Lock Haven University.

On December 12, Thomas Levendusky, a Recreation Management major from Mechanicsburg, and Andrew Moore, an English major from Jersey Shore, presented the results of their capstone research to the Environmental Studies faculty, thereby completing all requirements for the minor. A third student, Clayton Snyder, a Recreation Management major from Lebanon, also presented his capstone project, but will not graduate until May. Levendusky and Snyder discussed their work on an interpretative nature trail at Bald Eagle State Park. Moore presented research on the "Dark Skies" designation of Cherry Springs State Park.

In addition to the capstone project and a variety of environmental courses from both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Human Services, all three students took Introduction to Environmental Studies, which was offered for the first time this year. This course was team taught by Dr. Bob Myers (English), Dr. Barrie Overton (Biology), and Dr. Jeff Walsh (Recreation Management). Thirty students took the course, which focused on the history of environmentalism, scientific approaches to environmental questions, and the importance of activism. Walsh noted that the multidisciplinary nature of the course made it both challenging and rewarding to teach: "Each day you face a classroom full of students with different majors, different interests, and different career goals. To try to relate the course content to each student in profound ways is extremely difficult; however during those moments when it happens, the room is rocking with emotion and energy."

Overton was equally enthusiastic about the course. "The diverse student backgrounds made every day interesting...but even more interesting was the fact that many students also had diverse opinions on environmental issues such as global warming and ocean acidification, especially with regard to man-made Co2 emissions. It was very rewarding to share what I knew about these subjects and debate the issues with the students." Overton added, "I think the students enjoyed having three different perspectives in the course and I hope we keep teaching the course in this manner as it speaks highly to the multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies."

The minor in Environmental Studies was approved by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) in October 2010. Dr. Myers, who is Director of Environmental Studies, has been delighted with the response. "Our goal was to have eight students by the end of the first year," he said. "We already have 38."

Myers was also pleased with the quality of the capstone presentations: "All three students did substantial inter-disciplinary research into the relationship between humans and their environments."

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.