Conservationist tells Maryville College graduates to think critically, question authority

Rain early Saturday morning couldn’t crush the excitement of the Maryville College graduates gathered at a commencement ceremony in the Clayton Center for the Arts. After a weather-related change of venue pushed the ceremony back by an hour, graduates and their friends and families cheered as well over 200 people accepted their diplomas.

Amid the celebration, keynote speaker Theresa Pierno offered some advice to the college’s most recent graduates: know that you can change the way the world works.

She used her speech to emphasize three main points. Firstly, “take nothing for granted,” said Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association. Secondly, though “the world is small,” she added, “time and again I’ve seen how individual actions become movements and movements make change.” She provided an example of such change Saturday, describing how her childhood experiences in the woods near her home had triggered a lifelong interest in and advocacy for conservation.

Her final admonition: “be independent problem solvers and critical thinkers. Be willing to question whether there’s a better way or a different ending than what you’ve been told.”

“Don’t assume someone else has all the answers. Ask the questions. Don’t assume someone else has the power. Take the reins. Don’t assume the truth will come out. Shine a spotlight for all to see. Don’t assume something is too big to take on. It’s yours to tackle,” she said.

Saturday was a time for students to take stock of their time on campus and say goodbye to one another. For some faculty members, it was both goodbye and thank you. Retiring art Professor Carl Gombert received the school’s award for outstanding teachers — the product of a vote by the junior and senior classes. During the ceremony Vice President of the college Dan Klingensmith read several descriptions of Gombert from students. One student wrote that Gombert, who taught at the college for more than 30 years, was “the most kind man in the world, and he is such a light and positive energy in a room.”

“While I’m sad to know that he’s retiring, I know that he will continue the rest of his life with the same passion and creativity with which he has gone about his career,” another student wrote.

A student wrote of the award’s runner up Gabie Kerr, assistant professor in management, “(She) loves her students and loves her job. These are the professors you want to hold onto. All in all, she is one of my favorite professors, and I always look forward to taking her classes.”