Ferrum College Announces the Endowment of the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund

On Earth Day 2022, Ferrum College announced the endowment of the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund, which will provide critical support to the College’s natural science programs. Established in memory of Faculty Emerita of Environmental Science Carolyn Lee Thomas, who passed away in January 2020, the fund will primarily support experiential learning projects for students in environmental science, agriculture, and biology.

A beloved member of the Ferrum College community, Thomas taught environmental science at the College for more than 41 years. In addition to her work on campus, Thomas loved the learning that occurred outside the classroom. She and her husband, Faculty Emeritus of Biology and Agriculture Bob Pohlad, traveled to all 50 states as well as to numerous locations around the world, including the Galapagos Islands, and took groups of Ferrum College students for Experiential-term adventures to the Virgin Islands and Ireland.

“Our family is deeply appreciative and overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone’s gifts to honor my soulmate Carolyn’s memory with this endowed fund. Generated funds used for experiential learning are exactly what she would want,” said Pohlad. “Her legacy will live on through the use of this fund.”