Madeleine Margaret Gefke

Name

Madeleine Margaret Gefke

Degree

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Biology
Environmental Studies

About Me

I am a Biology and Environmental Studies double major focused on ecology and communication, and have been a member of Pyle Cooperative for 3 years. I have loved conducting research in Professor Mary Garvin's disease ecology lab for 3 years and working on community-based projects in the Environmental Studies program, including my watershed education capstone and the exhilarating Earth Day 50 celebration! The most rewarding part of my Oberlin experience is the community of people I feel fortunate to learn from, work with, and find friendship in as I try to figure out who I want to be and what I want to do. From classes, Pyle meals, and dance projects to music rehearsals, late night study sessions, and outings club trips, I am so thankful for the amazing people I have met, the interesting conversations, the words of encouragement, the inspiration, and so much more.

Study Abroad

Thailand with the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI), Fall 2018 of Junior Year

Campus Jobs

Research Assistant
SOAR leader
Oberlin Admissions tour guide
Teaching assistant
Science Center courtyard gardener

Favorite Place

Science Center courtyard/butterfly garden. I have gardened in this small, beautiful Eden my entire time at Oberlin and love tracking the seasons through the bees and the plants.

Favorite Class

Natural History of the Vermilion River Watershed. I loved spending hours each week outside visiting different parts of the watershed and keeping a nature journal full of my observations. I also met Professor Mary Garvin, who is a huge part of my Oberlin experience and has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined as a freshman in her seminar class.

Clubs & Organizations

BalletOberlin
Contra Dance Club
Dandelion Romp
Oberlin Student Cooperative Association
Outings Club
ViBE Dance Company
Pitch Please A Cappella Group
Barefoot Dialogue
Oberlin Climate Education Advocacy and Lobbying (OCEAL)

Notable Quote

"I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed." -Mary Oliver

Memorable Oberlin Moment

All of the friend group dinners, cooking with each other or bringing food potluck style. Such good food, wonderful community, the best of times with Brian, Olivia, Maya, Lynn, Kenneth, Rehaan, Joaquin and Marc. After four years of becoming friends, we are here!

Graduation Date

05/25/2020

Future Plans

After graduation, I will be spending the next two years in South India as a Shansi Fellow working with the Keystone Foundation, an organization in collaboration with local indigenous communities that focuses on people and environments in a holistic approach to eco-development.

Files

https://www.oc2020.oberlincollegelibrary.org/plugins/Dropbox/files/Gefke_Madeleine.jpg

Citation

“Madeleine Margaret Gefke,” OC2020, accessed March 29, 2024, https://www.oc2020.oberlincollegelibrary.org/items/show/129.

Output Formats

Geolocation