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People Profiles
Kristen Kerns
- Hometown: Medford, Oregon
- Major: Environmental Science with an emphasis in toxicology
- Minor: Chemistry
Why Western?
I was originally interested in Western because of the environmental science program. I love Western's campus and sense of community.
Hands-On Experience
As part of my degree, I participated in an internship where I helped research
information on NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permits for the BP oil refinery at Cherry Point and the Intalco aluminum smelting factory. The information that I researched was used in litigation processes to appeal the standards set in the permits by the Department of Ecology. This experience was beneficial to me because it gave me the opportunity to apply the information I had learned in the classroom to a real world situation, which was both enlightening and reaffirming to my education.
Influential Professor
Dr. Lampman from the Chemistry Department had a huge influence on me, because I had always struggled in organic chemistry. When I asked him for help preparing for the national cumulative organic chemistry exam, I thought I was just going to meet with him once or twice, but instead he met with me almost every day. He gave me problems to work on and would go over every one of them the next time we met. I ended up getting the best grade I had ever received in an organic chemistry class at Western. It meant a lot to me for him to take the time to tutor me because as a professor he has hundreds of students and a lot of other obligations to research.
Favorite Memory
I have always enjoyed kayaking and during the first month of my freshman year I had the opportunity to go on a kayaking trip with the Outdoor Center to Sinclair Island in the San Juans and stay at Western's Viqueen Lodge. Since I had only been at Western for a couple weeks, I was looking to make new friends and find something to take my mind off of the homesickness that was kicking in. The trip ended up being a great chance for me to meet other people who enjoyed the outdoors as much as I do and a wonderful experience in getting to see some of the more secluded portions of the San Juan Islands.
After Western
I am hoping to get a job somewhere in western Washington, hopefully working in environmental consulting.