By Laura Bither ’18
Laura Bither ’18 graduated from Wesleyan with a degree in environmental studies and biology, with a minor in African Studies. She is currently director of JustME for JustUS, a nonprofit organization with a mission to invest in Maine’s young leaders to create lasting power for their rural communities and the natural environment. Laura shares her journey from Maine to Wes and back to Maine, below!
Whenever someone asks me why I chose Wesleyan, I always have the same response: I felt that it would shape me to be the person I wanted to become. While my exploration took a few turns, I double-majored in Biology & Environmental Studies with a minor in African Studies. My passion for climate justice has been a core part of me since I was 11 and I had a moment of clarity that I wanted to be an “environmentalist” when I grew up. It was only when I got to Wesleyan and learned about climate justice that everything clicked into place. Fall of my freshman year, I took the AMST Intro to Pop Culture and Social Justice course and it blew my mind. I had no idea how all social issues intersect with climate, and learning case studies about the Lower Ninth Ward and environmental racism was the spark that solidified my passion.