Environmental studies major and writing minor Leah Nath ’26 reflects on the wide-ranging experiences, mentors, and creative opportunities at Gettysburg College that have shaped her interdisciplinary passions and prepared her for graduate study.
For Leah Nath ’26, an environmental studies (ES) major and writing minor from Ellicott City, Maryland, choosing Gettysburg College felt natural from the start. The campus and town immediately resonated with her. After visiting a class where the professor engaged personally with every student, she knew she had found a community where she could thrive.
From her first semester, Nath fully immersed herself in campus life, embracing an array of experiences that reflect her curiosity and wide-ranging interests. She sang in the College Choir for two years before transitioning to voice lessons, balanced creative expression with steady employment at Campus Safety, and became deeply involved in service and environmental engagement. She volunteered at Painted Turtle Farm and the Forever Love Rescue Shelter, participated in the Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization (GECO), and published 16 articles in The Gettysburgian’s arts and entertainment and opinions sections.
“I like having different activities through the week, and luckily, most things are not daily, so I just get to have a different day every day of the week,” Nath reflected.
As her involvement at Gettysburg grew, Nath found that her many activities naturally began to inform one another. What appeared at first to be separate commitments—fieldwork, writing, photography, and environmental advocacy—soon revealed unexpected connections. Each semester, she noticed herself drawing links across disciplines, experiences, and interests, discovering that the variety of things she does ultimately strengthens each pursuit.
“Every semester of college, I find myself making connections between classes, no matter how different those classes might seem,” Nath noted. “To me, a variety of activities becomes connected through the individual—if you have an interest in the different things you do, they will become a part of you and a part of each other.”
Two hallmark Gettysburg programs helped shape this integrative way of thinking: the Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute at Gettysburg (X-SIG) Summer Research Program and the Kolbe Fellows Program. X-SIG, during which she conducted fieldwork on Petit Manan Island, Maine, confirmed her love of hands-on research and expanded her confidence in environmental field studies. Kolbe, by contrast, offered room for creative exploration, allowing her to experiment with new formats and discover how she wanted to blend research, fieldwork, and writing in her academic and professional life.
“X-SIG and Kolbe were really huge for me in every way,” Nath said. “In both experiences, I learned things I never knew about or thought I would try, I got outside of my comfort zone in some really crazy ways, and I have produced work that I am really proud of.”
Nath’s perspective broadened further during a semester abroad in Stavanger, Norway, where she hiked dramatic landscapes and deepened her understanding of global environmental issues. Her creative work continued to thrive as well: she earned two honors in Gettysburg’s Art in Science Competition, receiving the Best Photograph Award for her puffin image and the Best Student Work Award for a stream photograph. She also published creative writing in The Mercury and in literary magazines, including Susquehanna’s Flagship and SUNY’s Unearthed.
At the heart of her journey has been strong mentorship. Nath credits Prof. Salma Monani and Prof. Tasha Gownaris ’09 in the Environmental Studies Department as her most influential guides—mentors who took the time to understand her strengths, goals, and evolving aspirations.
“Their belief in me has provided countless academic and professional opportunities, but more than that, their care for my well-being and success has ensured that I have grown more than I ever thought I could, both as a student and as a person,” Nath said.
With more than two semesters’ worth of AP and dual-enrollment credits, Nath will graduate a semester early as part of the Midyear Graduates Recognition Ceremony in Paul Recital Hall on Dec. 10. Looking ahead, she is applying to graduate programs to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in environmental creative writing and ecology art studios, a path that blends her love for the natural world, storytelling, and artistic expression.
And amid all the accomplishments, it’s the quieter moments she treasures most—ES department events, themed dinners at Servo, and time spent with close friends. Together, these memories form a rich, interconnected tapestry that defines her Gettysburg experience and prepares her for the creative and environmental work that lies ahead.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos provided by Leah Nath ’26
Posted: 12/08/25