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
Bridget Lomax '28
Bridget is an Environmental Studies and Music double major from Short Hills, New Jersey. She researches atmospheric deposition in Ohio with a broader focus on the relationship between global atmospheric events and local deposition patterns. In her free time, Bridget enjoys reading, performing, and drinking over-steeped teas.
Bridget is an Environmental Studies and Music double major from Short Hills, New Jersey. She researches atmospheric deposition in Ohio with a broader focus on the relationship between global atmospheric events and local deposition patterns. In her free time, Bridget enjoys reading, performing, and drinking over-steeped teas.
Anabelle Hicks '26
Anabelle is an Environmental Studies major and Public Policy concentrator from Mamaroneck, New York. Her current project examines differences between atmospheric deposition under tree canopies versus open areas across an urban-rural gradient. She is particularly interested in the effectiveness of tree canopies as an air pollution mitigation tool. In her free time, she loves to run, draw, and hike.
Anabelle is an Environmental Studies major and Public Policy concentrator from Mamaroneck, New York. Her current project examines differences between atmospheric deposition under tree canopies versus open areas across an urban-rural gradient. She is particularly interested in the effectiveness of tree canopies as an air pollution mitigation tool. In her free time, she loves to run, draw, and hike.
Jeremy Roberts '26
Jeremy is a 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 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.
Lab Alumni
Margaret Anne Doran '25
Margaret Anne was an Environmental Studies major and English minor from Charlottesville, Virginia. She was involved in the lab since 2022, and is especially interested in understanding how dust and nutrient cycles can fluctuate and impact public health. Margaret Anne is currently working at Maple Wind Farm in Vermont.
Margaret Anne was an Environmental Studies major and English minor from Charlottesville, Virginia. She was involved in the lab since 2022, and is especially interested in understanding how dust and nutrient cycles can fluctuate and impact public health. Margaret Anne is currently working at Maple Wind Farm in Vermont.
Will Bryant '25
Will was a Chemistry major and Environmental Studies concentrator from Little Rock, Arkansas. Will was involved in the lab since 2021 and is interested in many aspects of geochemistry. He worked 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 was a Chemistry major and Environmental Studies concentrator from Little Rock, Arkansas. Will was involved in the lab since 2021 and is interested in many aspects of geochemistry. He worked 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 was an Environmental Studies Major and Biology, English double minor from Mount Vernon, Ohio. Her project involved 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 currently pursuing a Master of Energy Transition degree at Dartmouth.
Jordan was an Environmental Studies Major and Biology, English double minor from Mount Vernon, Ohio. Her project involved 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 currently pursuing a Master of Energy Transition degree at Dartmouth.
Liz Navratil '24
Liz was an Environmental Studies and Biology double major and Anthropology minor at Kenyon College from Cleveland, Ohio. Liz’s research examined the impact of time and different restoration methods on mycorrhizal colonization across recovered farmland in Knox County. Liz is currently pursuing her MS at the University of Minnesota in Natural Resource Science and Management.
Liz was an Environmental Studies and Biology double major and Anthropology minor at Kenyon College from Cleveland, Ohio. Liz’s research examined the impact of time and different restoration methods on mycorrhizal colonization across recovered farmland in Knox County. Liz is currently pursuing her MS at the University of Minnesota in Natural Resource Science and Management.
Sadie Richards '24
Sadie was an Environmental Studies major and History minor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sadie’s research in the Heindel Lab investigated atmospheric deposition along an urban-rural gradient in Columbus, Ohio, focusing on the demographic history of the sites through spatial analysis. Sadie is currently pursuing her MS at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Science in Water Policy.
Sadie was an Environmental Studies major and History minor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sadie’s research in the Heindel Lab investigated atmospheric deposition along an urban-rural gradient in Columbus, Ohio, focusing on the demographic history of the sites through spatial analysis. Sadie is currently pursuing her MS at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Science in Water Policy.
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.
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 an Associate Project Manager in Solar Development 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 an Associate Project Manager in Solar Development at Arevon Energy, Inc.
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 received her MS at the University of Maine in June 2024 and is currently an ORISE Fellow at the EPA.
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 received her MS at the University of Maine in June 2024 and is currently an ORISE Fellow at the EPA.