Newswise — Looking over her orienteering map, Lynn Aldrich, Ed.D., associate professor of physics at Misericordia University, can quickly find the exact location of her favorite trail at Frances Slocum State Park in the Back Mountain.
Being in tune with the environment comes naturally for Dr. Aldrich, a self-described environmentalist and humanitarian, who has been making a second home for herself in Mother Nature’s environs since her early teens. “I feel at peace, I feel renewed,’’ she says about being in the great outdoors. “I just feel in touch with the natural world that God created and we are the stewards of.’’
Dr. Aldrich has taken the lessons she learned at an early age from her father, Clare Aldrich, and siblings, Thomas Aldrich and Nancy Vogel, and applied them to her life’s work — both inside and outside the classroom. The early childhood hikes in her hometown’s woodlands eventually led her to climb to the top of a volcano in Mexico and to trek along scene paths in the mountains of Nepal in South Asia as an adult.
“To realize you are looking at the tallest mountain on earth is very awe-inspiring,’’ she says about Mount Everest. “This is the tallest place on the planet. I don’t know how to describe it.’’
Others, though, certainly know how to describe Dr. Aldrich’s dedication to her profession, the environment and especially those most in need. “She is truly a woman of Mercy who understands and lives the charisms of this institution in her daily life,’’ says Christine Somers, director of Campus Ministry at MU.
“Dr. Aldrich’s students gain experience in volunteerism within their community while learning the practical application of physics in everyday life,’’ adds Carol Blundell, coordinator of Service Learning at Misericordia.
And Patrick McKamy, coordinator of student activities at MU, says she has “distinguished herself as a role model within the university community and with her devout care for humanity and the environment.’’
In a way, Dr. Aldrich has found a synergy between her ideals and education that benefits Mother Earth and humankind. “I did some self reflection about 10 or 15 years ago and realized that my purpose is to use my abilities to help others,’’ she says. “I think anyone who teaches has some of that.’’
Since 1993, Dr. Aldrich has been volunteering for the North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) and today serves as the chairwoman of the board of directors. NBLT works with property owners to maintain Northeastern Pennsylvania’s open spaces and to preserve scenic and environmentally sensitive properties in perpetuity through conservation easements. The trust has preserved more than 8,600 acres in eight counties.
Whether it was recovering from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina or building better lives for families in impoverished countries or neighborhoods, people in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nepal, New Mexico and North Carolina know about Dr. Aldrich’s compassion.
“A big part of me likes to do things like build trails or houses because you can see the physical result of what you did,’’ says Dr. Aldrich, who has chaperoned Misericordia service-learning trips and participated in projects for Habitat for Humanity and the Jimmy and Roselyn Carter Work Project. “I feel a sense of accomplishment that I did do the right thing because it’s verified in what they’re thinking was done.
“If they’re happy or a student gets it, then I know I succeeded. When a student tells you that your help was important to their understanding, that’s the feedback that tells you what you’re doing worked,’’ she adds with a smile.
Misericordia University recognized Dr. Aldrich, the chair of the physics department, by presenting her the Pauly and Sidney Friedman Faculty Award for Service for the 2008-09 academic year. The annual award is given to a member of the faculty who has been selected by the Faculty Awards Committee in recognition of their service for the college and greater community. It takes into consideration the depth, impact, degree and longevity of the service activities.
Dr. Aldrich of Dallas has been a member of the faculty since 1988 and was program director for physics before being named department chair. She holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Grinnell College and a master’s in physics from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Dr. Aldrich received her doctorate from Temple University in curriculum, instruction and technology in science education.
The following is a list of properties the NBLT has protected through ownership or conservation easements:Hosler Property, 42 acres; Betty Davies Property, 37 acres; Diane Davies Property, 1 acre; Zygmunt Property, 50 acres; Houck Farm, 83 acres; Ayers Property, 124 acres; Rinehimer Property, 53 acres; Noxen Depot, 1 acre; Daly Property, 243 acres; Kipp’s Fen, 45 acres; Harvey Property, 52 acres; Dittmar Property, 280 acres; New Pocono Trust, 3,018 acres; Eberhardt Property, 38 acres; Huntington Mt. North, 197 acres; Huntington Mt. South, 220 acres; Plymouth Mountain, 142 acres; Howland Preserve, 667 acres; Kulow Property, 89 acres; Case Property, 34 acres; Rohrbach Property, 146 acres; Taylor Century Farm, 270 acres; Cremer Property, 34 acres; ESDB Property, 293 acres; Warrior Path, 104 acres; Rockwell Property, 96 acres; Macialek Property, 75 acres; Sedor Property, 46 acres; Camp Lackawanna, 282 acres; Kilmer Farm, 89 acres; Harvey’s Woodlot, 4 acres; Grape Rock Farm, 56 acres; Keohane East, 82 acres; Keohane West, 70 acres; Liberty Baricin Preserve, 25 acres; Gates Property, 116 acres; Bear Creek Lake View, 65 acres; Randall Lake, 198 acres; Alexander Property, 25 acres; Faber Property, 230 acres; Wagner Property, 73 acres; Mountain Top American Legion, 255 acres; Kuryloski Woods, 54 acres; Picton Sanctuary North, 134 acres; and Picton Sanctuary South, 349 acres.
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