ALUMNI
Message from the CST Alumni Board Learn more about how you can get involved at cst.temple.edu/alumni or email Jena Hudson, CST Alumni Affairs, at jena.hudson@temple.edu
In my message to CST’s Class of 2020, I stressed the special bond that connects all Temple University alumni.
events via Zoom. And please go to cst.temple.edu to learn more about our Owl to Owl Mentor Program and ways you can financially support the college.
As many older alumni already know, these bonds can grow even stronger through the years. But you have to work at it. I urge you to continue to build connections with your Temple community as you move through the many phases of your lives: education, jobs, family, career changes, retirement and the many times we reinvent ourselves along the way.
For many of us, Temple is where we found our passion. I believe that when you are driven by that commitment, you can achieve great things. As I told our graduates, the journey ahead will include many successes and some failure. I know that Owls are ready for whatever lies ahead and together we can make great things happen.
The CST Alumni Board is a powerful network that you can access throughout your life. We are here to help Temple Owls succeed! To stay connected to CST and to fellow alumni, I urge you to follow CST on social media, look for our monthly emails, read Outlook and department newsletters and look for more alumni
Sincerely,
Jennifer Greller Gresh (BA ’98, EES) CST Alumni Board President, 2019-2020
Kate Lyons (BS ’20, EES)
Planting seeds of success at Temple BY AMANDA MORRISON
Although her path to the College of Science and Technology wasn’t exactly straightforward, Kate Lyons made the most of every opportunity once she landed here. Originally from just outside Philadelphia, Lyons was plenty familiar with Temple growing up. But, as a high school senior, didn’t know what she wanted to do in life. Itching to learn more about herself before starting college, Lyons took a gap year. “I worked on trails and was traveling and really fell in love with the environment during that time,” Lyons said. “I thought, ‘Now, I know myself.’” Lyons wanted to work with the environment in some capacity, but when she started at Temple she was taking classes in science, engineering and liberal arts before finally zeroing in on geology. It was a physical geology course that really ignited her passion 22
College of Science and Technology
for the environment. “I knew I could blend geology with environmental science and I really liked the idea of getting a science degree,” said Lyons. “It gives you so many skills, such as understanding data and research.” At Temple, Lyons served on the university’s Sustainability Task Force, which she joined her freshman year, and later became the director of sustainability for Temple Student Government as a senior. She started the compost collection service known as Diamond Compost, funded by an Office of Sustainability green grant. This community compost pick-up service encourages student sustainability and nourishes the compost at the Temple Community Garden. In the classroom, Lyons was most inspired by Professor Laura Toran’s groundwater hydrology class. “That class gave me an applied look into how you can use geology to actually
solve environmental issues,” Lyons said, who added that the course’s real-world field trips and career-minded outlook inspired Lyons to work in Toran’s lab during summer 2019. In her senior year, Lyons earned one of Temple’s Diamond Awards for students who are passionate about scholarship, devoted to service and dedicated to leadership. She is now working full-time as a geologist at SSM Group, in the Department of Energy and Sustainability Services. She might pursue a master’s in public policy, environmental planning or environmental management. Lyons hopes to work in municipal climate resilience, helping cities to become more sustainable as they work toward their climate goals.
