People of Eastern: Mary Lauer

Mary Lauer is a Senior at Eastern who is studying Environmental Science. She grew up in Morgantown, PA and is the youngest of six kids. She was homeschooled and played the piano, along with participating in a local school band where she played the flute. She also danced, her favorite style being ballet, and acted in plays within her homeschoolers group. Her favorite role in highschool was Meg in Little Women.

Lauer chose Eastern because she wanted to get to know her professors well instead of attending large classes. She thought the campus was beautiful and that it was not too far away from home. In addition, she wanted to attend school with her sister, who also goes to Eastern. While at Eastern, Dr. Hays has made the largest impact on her.

“I would like to thank Dr. Rebecca Hays for teaching me how to care for the environment, while also making all the classes enjoyable. She also formed a personal relationship with me which I have been grateful for over the years” Lauer stated. She also wanted to give a shout out to Dr. Julie Morgan, who taught a communication class Lauer took.

“It was one of the best classes I ever took and she cared about me even though I wasn’t a Communication major, although I should have been” said Lauer.

Lauer studied abroad during her Junior year, in Kaikoura, New Zealand, in a program focused on environmental care. She stayed in an old hostel building with six other girls and the staff. The town was located right on the beach and the mountains nearby. Her favorite part of the program was researching marine mammals while on a boat. While in New Zealand, Lauer got to visit Hobbiton, hot springs, rainforests, glaciers, glowworm caves, and National Park Able Tasman. Before and after the program, she got to travel in Australia where she visited friends and her brother.

Outside of school, some of her interests include gardening, bird watching, fostering kittens, baking, and playing Mario Party. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially when they go out to eat, play board games, go to amusement parks, and the beach.

Lauer has no set plans after graduation but hopes to work in animal conservation or environmental education. She would also like to live abroad and travel more, specifically to Italy, Greece, and Ireland. Eventually, she hopes to settle down in the Philadelphia area where she can be close to her family.