Students
Hey! My name is Jimmy Munse
, and I am a 22 year old senior biology major at George Mason University
participating in the Smithsonian-Mason Semester. I was born and raised in Centreville, Virginia, and
was a graduate of Westfield High School in 2004. I have grown up loving nature, and I always jump at
the opportunity to be outside. Since I was young boy and throughout my high school and college years I
have always been deeply involved in sports. I am an extremely active person, and especially like running,
biking, hiking, and swimming in any lake or beach. This is when I am at my best; having fun outside while
enjoying the earth's natural beauty. I believe this is one of the main contributing factors that inspired
me to pursue conservation biology.
I want my children's children to be able to experience and enjoy what I see today. I have been blessed enough to volunteer in a conservation project in Australia, and travel to Costa Rica to study its various ecosystems. These opportunities helped open my eyes to the environmental issues facing the planet as a whole, and further increased my belief that conservation work is where I belong. This Smithsonian-Mason Semester will be an incredible experience because I will be able to work with and learn from top scientists from all over the world. Everyone we have met so far has been very nice and eager to help us. I will also get hands on experience in various conservation practices, and learn how environmental organizations truly work. This opportunity gets our "foot in the door" with internships, jobs, and graduate school. This type of experience cannot be achieved in a regular school setting.
Hi, my name is Leanne Creger and I'm from Wytheville, Virginia. I have attended George Mason University since
2002 and have received a B.S. degree in Psychology. I am currently finishing a B.S. degree in Biology.
Recently I was promoted to Lead Teacher at the George Mason University's Child Development Center where I teach
a great group of three-year-olds. I have left them for now to pursue a possible career in conservation.
Last semester I became interested in conservation while taking Conservation Biology from a very passionate
professor. It was through her inspiration and a case study requirement that I became excited and passionate
as well. I was highly interested in the Mason-Smithsonian Semester, but with only 3 credits left to graduate,
I hesitated. After a few restless nights, I decided to apply and here I am! I am loving it and this has been
the best decision of my life! My interests in conservation are varied, but I believe I would like to further
my case study on the Asian Turtle Crisis. This is an amazing opportunity and I hope that I can make a difference
by utilizing all the tools that are being presented to me!
My name is Allison Dodson, and I was born and raised in Springfield, VA. My favorite memories of childhood
consist of hikes with my dad and a constant love for being outdoors. I have also had pets my entire life,
increasing my desire to work with and help animals. I am currently majoring in Biology at George Mason with
a concentration in conservation. My interests in conservation really began once I experienced classes which
focused in conservation studies. Since declaring my major, I have taken classes in plant, fungal, and animal
biology as well as a tropical ecology class in Costa Rica which especially sparked my interest for tropical
conservation.
Hi, my name is Kristen Thoms and I am currently an undergraduate student at George Mason University, majoring in Biology.
I have always been interested in conservation issues and animals, but this semester is my
first opportunity to really see how I can make a difference. So far, I have been amazed
with the number of faculty and professionals who have shared amazing insight into their
personal experiences and research. I am also excited by the dynamic quality of this program,
with constant activities and opportunities that enhance the learning community. I can only
imagine what is to come, and I plan to fully take advantage of this once in a lifetime experience!