Dr. Ruth Heindel
Dorothy & Thomas Jegla Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Ruth is an environmental earth scientist who is interested in biogeochemical cycling, atmospheric deposition, and mineral weathering in remote and local environments. Ruth has conducted field research in Greenland, Antarctica, the Colorado Front Range, and locally in central Ohio. She loves mentoring undergraduates on a variety of research projects. At Kenyon, Ruth teaches Introduction to Environmental Studies, Earth Systems Science, Introductory Environmental Lab, The Science of Climate Change, in addition to other courses.
Dorothy & Thomas Jegla Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Ruth is an environmental earth scientist who is interested in biogeochemical cycling, atmospheric deposition, and mineral weathering in remote and local environments. Ruth has conducted field research in Greenland, Antarctica, the Colorado Front Range, and locally in central Ohio. She loves mentoring undergraduates on a variety of research projects. At Kenyon, Ruth teaches Introduction to Environmental Studies, Earth Systems Science, Introductory Environmental Lab, The Science of Climate Change, in addition to other courses.
Undergraduate Research Students
Jeremy Roberts '26
Jeremy is a perspective Biology major at Kenyon College from Richmond, Indiana. Jeremy researches atmospheric deposition in Ohio by analyzing the nutrients and pollutants in rainwater to create an understanding of how urban, industrial, and agricultural activities contribute to environmental change and impact public health. In his free time, he enjoys birding, cycling, and traveling.
Jeremy is a perspective Biology major at Kenyon College from Richmond, Indiana. Jeremy researches atmospheric deposition in Ohio by analyzing the nutrients and pollutants in rainwater to create an understanding of how urban, industrial, and agricultural activities contribute to environmental change and impact public health. In his free time, he enjoys birding, cycling, and traveling.
Will Bryant '25
Will is a Chemistry major and Environmental Studies concentrator from Little Rock, Arkansas. Will has been involved in the lab since 2021 and is interested in many aspects of geochemistry. He is currently working on characterizing sediment collected from ice cores in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica and is specifically interested in understanding how mineralogical information from the sediment can be carried over into understanding the cycling of nutrients.
Will is a Chemistry major and Environmental Studies concentrator from Little Rock, Arkansas. Will has been involved in the lab since 2021 and is interested in many aspects of geochemistry. He is currently working on characterizing sediment collected from ice cores in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica and is specifically interested in understanding how mineralogical information from the sediment can be carried over into understanding the cycling of nutrients.
Jordan Schisler '25
Jordan is an Environmental Studies Major and Biology, English double minor from Mount Vernon, Ohio. Her current project involves classifying the composition and weathering characteristics of glacial sediment samples from the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. She is interested in how geochemical processes affect nutrient cycles and ecosystems.
Jordan is an Environmental Studies Major and Biology, English double minor from Mount Vernon, Ohio. Her current project involves classifying the composition and weathering characteristics of glacial sediment samples from the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. She is interested in how geochemical processes affect nutrient cycles and ecosystems.
Liz Navratil '24
Liz is an Environmental Studies and Biology double major and Anthropology minor at Kenyon College from Cleveland, Ohio. She is interested in studying soil science and forest ecosystems, as well as the connections of food sovereignty, agriculture, and ecology. Liz’s current project examines the impact of time and different restoration methods on mycorrhizal colonization across recovered farmland in Knox County.
Liz is an Environmental Studies and Biology double major and Anthropology minor at Kenyon College from Cleveland, Ohio. She is interested in studying soil science and forest ecosystems, as well as the connections of food sovereignty, agriculture, and ecology. Liz’s current project examines the impact of time and different restoration methods on mycorrhizal colonization across recovered farmland in Knox County.
Sadie Richards '24
Sadie is an Environmental Studies and History double major at Kenyon College from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is interested in studying the intersection between historically colonized land and the derived environmental and ecosystem impacts. Sadie’s research in the Heindel Lab continues to investigate atmospheric deposition along an urban-rural gradient in Columbus, Ohio, but focuses on the demographic history of the sites through spatial analysis. She is interested in seeing how different communities may be subjected to disproportionate exposure to higher concentrations of particulate deposition and certain ions through historical legal and cultural practices.
Sadie is an Environmental Studies and History double major at Kenyon College from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is interested in studying the intersection between historically colonized land and the derived environmental and ecosystem impacts. Sadie’s research in the Heindel Lab continues to investigate atmospheric deposition along an urban-rural gradient in Columbus, Ohio, but focuses on the demographic history of the sites through spatial analysis. She is interested in seeing how different communities may be subjected to disproportionate exposure to higher concentrations of particulate deposition and certain ions through historical legal and cultural practices.
Lab Alumni
Ben Pimstone '22
Ben was an Environmental Studies major with a concentration in Anthropology from Los Angeles at Kenyon College. Ben's research in the Heindel lab focused on soil carbon levels and overall soil health on previously row cropped land as it relates to instituted soil recovery practices. Ben is currently a Solar Development Analyst at Arevon Energy, Inc.
Ben was an Environmental Studies major with a concentration in Anthropology from Los Angeles at Kenyon College. Ben's research in the Heindel lab focused on soil carbon levels and overall soil health on previously row cropped land as it relates to instituted soil recovery practices. Ben is currently a Solar Development Analyst at Arevon Energy, Inc.
Taso Sdregas '23
Taso was an Environmental Studies major and Biology minor at Kenyon College. Taso's research in the Heindel lab focused on soil carbon, water content, and pH level in recovered farmland at the Brown Family Environmental Center.
Taso was an Environmental Studies major and Biology minor at Kenyon College. Taso's research in the Heindel lab focused on soil carbon, water content, and pH level in recovered farmland at the Brown Family Environmental Center.
Ansley Grider '22
Ansley was a Biology major and Environmental Studies concentrator at Kenyon College. Ansley’s research in the Heindel Lab focused on atmospheric nitrogen deposition along a rural/agricultural to urban gradient in Ohio, as well as the impact of nitrogen deposition on plant species. Ansley is currently a MS student at the University of Maine.
Ansley was a Biology major and Environmental Studies concentrator at Kenyon College. Ansley’s research in the Heindel Lab focused on atmospheric nitrogen deposition along a rural/agricultural to urban gradient in Ohio, as well as the impact of nitrogen deposition on plant species. Ansley is currently a MS student at the University of Maine.