Alumni & Friends > Board of Directors > G. Leah (Glessner) Dever

Major:  Biology

Current Job/Employer:  I spent 10 years in several private environmental engineering and consulting firms and then 20 years in a variety of Federal government positions related to management and operations of large, complex nuclear and scientific facilities owned and operated by the Department of Energy.

Favorite Thiel Professor:  Dr. Philip Ode  

Why I initially chose Thiel:  I attended a weekend seminar event through the Lutheran Church when I was in high school.  I liked the small campus size, the small class sizes and the friendly spirit.      

Classroom/Dorm Story:  When I went to Thiel, the dorms were closed to members of the male sex.  Finally, the rules changed so that we could check men into our rooms on a Friday evening for several hours.  The doors had to remain open and a hall monitor was assigned to check on us.  I remember that I wrote to my mother about the rule changes; she responded with admonitions about the type of girl that would invite a boy into such a room!  She was adamant that a nice girl would never do such a thing.  I learned that it was not wise to tell my mother certain things.

How my Thiel education aided me in my career:  My Thiel experiences taught me to Read, Write, and Reason my way through problems of all types.  I was always interested in environmental sciences and I was able to carry on with that interest through my career which involved a lot of work in the safety and environmental compliance of large nuclear complexes around the USA.  As I advanced into higher level management positions, I found that the problem solving techniques I learned at Thiel through my various courses, primarily in the sciences, worked well for solving management problems.

How my experience at Thiel aided me in my life/career:  At Thiel, many of our classes required us to write papers and to write lengthy essays in response to test questions.  This helped me with my writing skills, which are essential for success in the business and government worlds that I chose for my career.  My abilities to write, speak and reason through problems resulted in my consistent advancement in my career.

Comments about your journey at Thiel and the relationships made: My best girl friend is still my college roommate.  We pledged a sorority together and struggled through many social and intellectual problems together.  We remained close throughout the years after college and when we are together, I often feel like we are still college roommates.        

Why I give back to Thiel and serve on the Alumni Board:  I did well through my career and am happily retired.  I don't believe that I could have accomplished what I did in my career if it had not been for the excellent education that I received at Thiel.  The small class size forced me to learn to be a participant.  The many essay tests and papers that were required helped me hone my writing skills.  I learned to speak up and speak out at Thiel and I have always appreciated how my education helped me in my career.