Major: Environmental Science
Minors: Biology, Sustainability Leadership
Hometown: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Scholarships: Gerald Bayles Memorial Scholarship, the Penn State Provost Award from the Schreyer Honors College, and the Chancellor’s Scholarship.
On choosing Behrend: The main reason I came to Behrend was because my major only exists here; however, the longer I have been at Behrend, the more I have appreciated it. The people at Behrend are so friendly, and having such easy access to Wintergreen Gorge, Lake Erie, and so many other natural areas for geoscience and ecology classes really enhanced my learning experience.
On choosing her major: I really care about the planet. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we grow are all supported by the environment. Knowing how climate change affects our natural systems and the people across the globe inspired me to learn what I can do to help.
Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I earned second place in undergraduate oral presentations at the Regional Science Consortium conference for my research on round gobies. I had presented at conferences before, but never an oral presentation, nor had I won anything before.
Awards: AMCC All-Sportsmanship Team Award twice for good sportsmanship; President Walker Award (4.0 GPA), Outstanding Freshman in Chemistry/American Chemical Society Award, First-Year Writing Award, President Sparks Award, Academic Excellence in Environmental Science – Research Award, Dean’s list throughout college years.
Campus involvement: I am a Schreyer Scholar and was on the Behrend Schreyer council as the secretary for one year and vice president for two years. I played on the women’s tennis team starting in my second year and was the team captain in my senior year. I am a Science Ambassador and am highly involved with Greener Behrend, where I served as treasurer for one year and as president for the last two years. This past year, I also took on the role of sustainable lab consultant, where I go into a lab on campus and work to find ways to make it more sustainable.
On overcoming challenges: Maintaining good mental health throughout school, and life in general, has been a bit of a challenge. I would describe myself as a perfectionist, but life is not perfect, making it sometimes hard to be proud of accomplishments or feel satisfied in my work. This has also made it difficult to start projects, as I worry about them not being “perfect.” The phrase “if something is worth doing, it is worth doing badly” has helped me a lot, showing that something done poorly is better than not trying at all. I have been trying to do more new things, no matter how bad, and it has helped me to let go of some of the pressure I put on myself.
What makes her unique: I was obsessed with cooking shows as a kid and would recreate dishes myself. This experience has been helpful in the present day because I love to do my own plant-based cooking and come up with new recipes. I love bringing a dish or sharing something I’ve made with others so they can taste how good vegan food can be.
What you may be surprised to know about her: I really enjoy seeing and making art, especially what may be seen as odd. I like pieces that confuse me and make me think. I did ceramics throughout high school, making a large jar with four faces on it, a Tim Burton inspired jack-in-the-box, a skull with vines coming out of it, and more. I am trying to get into painting right now, and I hope to have a ceramics studio someday.
Have passport, will travel: Aside from my career goals, my personal goals in the immediate future are do more traveling, go to more festivals, and attend more concerts. I went to the Bahamas and Iceland as a study abroad trip while at Behrend, and this opened my eyes to how much more there is to see and experience.
Her passions: A lot of my hobbies and interests have turned into my desire to be more sustainable. I love to watch videos on sustainable actions, read books on the causes of climate change, and talk to people about these topics. It brings me joy to know I am making a difference.
Advice for first-year students: Prioritize your schoolwork, but also include time for fun and for breaks. You will not forget the friends and memories you make along the way.
After her graduation in May, Keri plans to pursue a career in conservation or sustainable development. She also plans to attend graduate school after gaining some experience in her field.