Lelia Shaffer

Question #1: What inspired you to pursue the major you are in?

I was inspired to pursue Environmental Resource Management (ERM) because I am passionate about sustainability. I also have been an outdoors person my entire life and I knew this major had opportunities for hands-on learning, which I love! As someone who isn’t completely sure what I want to do after college, I also love that ERM prepares me for many potential careers in the private and public sector, including environmental consulting, environmental law, research, and conservation. 

Question #2: What has been the best part of your time in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences?

The best part of my time in the College of Agricultural Sciences has been working in the Sweetman Lab. I started getting involved in aquatic ecology research during the spring of my first year, and I even got to stay at Penn State over the summer to work on an individual project with the lab. It has been an amazing learning experience and has opened up different future career pathways for me.

Question #3: What do you wish you would have known as a new student at Penn State?

I wish I had known how important it is to try a lot of new things at the start of your college experience. You are allowed to join way more clubs than you can handle long-term to see which ones you like, then leave the ones you don't! Also, make sure you spend time exploring campus to find your favorite study spots – the library is not the only place to get work done!