Kaitlin Thurman grew up in the forests and cornfields near St. Louis, Missouri. Her childhood was filled with chasing lightning bugs in the summer, kayaking in the winter, and watching the neighborhood beaver construct his dam in her backyard. She also spent many summers in distant countries, which would become the foundation of her awe and wonder for the world. By 2017, she received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Northwest Missouri State University. In the years to follow, she worked as an Aquarist, then as a Fisheries Biologist for the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and a Chemist for Spokane Community Colleges. All the while, she knew that she wanted to get a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences.

When the Coronavirus shut down the world and the United States in March of 2020, Kaitlin faced the pandemic head-on. She vowed to come out of the catastrophe better than when it started. She enrolled in Oregon State University E-Campus and began classes in the Fall of 2020. As an E-Campus student, it gave her the flexibility to work full-time and pay for her education! Oregon State University echoed many of Kaitlin’s aspirations, and she knew that this university would grant opportunities she never dreamed of.

In less than two years, Kaitlin had completed her requirements to graduate with a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences. She also successfully defended her master’s non-thesis, “Spokane, WA Assessment & Implementation of Urban Ecosystem Services in City Parks.” Her time at Oregon State University was life-changing and will not be forgotten. She intends to use her recently acquired knowledge to enhance urban forests and advocate for wildlife preservation in our country. As for her personal life, she will be getting married this year and plans to travel with her two cocker spaniels in the Pacific Northwest.

Kaitlin Thurman
Executive Summary: 
Graduation Year: 
2022