One of the gifts a liberal arts school like Goshen College offers its students is the freedom to explore and connect multiple disciplines. Heather Gabel, a rising junior from Orange City, Iowa, has taken full advantage of this opportunity.
Lily Kauffman, a rising junior from Mountain Lake, Minn., has a wide range of hands-on interests. She knows she enjoys being with plants and working outdoors but is still weighing her options regarding a major.
Georgia Ringle, a senior from Burlington, Mich., came to Goshen College’s sustainable food systems major by way of a culinary program. Georgia attended a technical high school where she received training in culinary skills and chose her first college with this in mind.
The search committee for a new executive director of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College has invited David Ostergren, Ph.D., to serve as acting executive director for July and August 2019.
After almost 22 years as executive director of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, Dr. Luke Gascho will retire June 30. The Merry Lea Team invites the public to a retirement reception from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 at the Farmstead Pavilion, 2152 S 425 W, Albion. A short program will take place at 3 p.m.
Duane Kauffmann, Goshen, Ind., is a retired professor with a unique passion: snail taxonomy. Following a May 20 slide show over lunch, Duane presented the Merry Lea Team with a pictorial notebook and display cases documenting the 31 species of snails he has found on Merry Lea property so far.
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a renowned atmospheric scientist who directs the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, was the featured speaker for Goshen College’s annual Religion and Science Conference March 29 to 31, 2019.
Farm Manager Jon Zirkle will conclude his employment with Merry Lea at the end of March 2019 after nearly six years. Looking back over those years, Jon has a long list of favorite things about his job: Tree pruning, cover cropping, watching students be transformed by working with their hands. Hearing the birds, seeing the seasons change, working with volunteers and co-workers.
For some students, the prospect of a course in the Bahamas clinches the decision to attend Merry Lea’s Master of Arts in Environmental Education program. For Ali Sanders, the course also settled her career direction.
Merry Lea fans may be unaware of the wealth of information available under the land management tab on Merry Lea’s website. These pages describe the ecosystems that make up Merry Lea and the restoration projects underway or completed.
