COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 29 For students considering Lehigh, Thomas says that even though the program requires a lot of work, it will be worth it by the time they are ready to graduate. “Lehigh just has so many incredible resources, from our wonderful Center for Career and Professional Development to the Graduate Writers’ Studio and the top-tier faculty we have the opportunity to work with,” she says. “It is a wonderful school to pursue not only a master’s degree, but undergraduate degrees as well. I’m very happy I chose to study at Lehigh.” ● During her time at Lehigh, Thomas has truly enjoyed the relationships she has created with faculty, especially while she worked as a teaching assistant during the 2020-21 school year when classes had to be taught online. “Having those connections really made me feel a part of the Lehigh community, despite not being able to step foot on campus, and I’m grateful for all the guidance multiple faculty members gave me as I transitioned to graduate school,” she says. Thomas has found the faculty with whom she has collaborated to be exceptional mentors in her academic, professional, and personal life. She is appreciative to work alongside both Booth and David Casagrande, professor of anthropology in the department of sociology and anthropology and a member of Lehigh’s Environmental Initiative. The pair are her thesis advisers, and their input and advice have been invaluable during her research and the writing of her thesis. As for the future, Thomas hopes to work in the public sector. “I would also be happy working in the nonprofit sector with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy or the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, where I would be able to work in wetland protection, conservation and education,” she says. Data collected by Christina Thomas will help inform Lehigh’s possible wetlands restoration efforts. CHRISTINE KRESCHOLLEK
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