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Student Snapshot: Natalia Donia ’26 

Natalia Donia ’26 is immersed in hands-on learning about human cultures, building community and sustainability. Through work at the Keck Archaeology Lab, College Farm and Center for Sustainability Education, she’s developed skills in research, environmental stewardship, communication and advocacy. She’s also made good friends. “Whether it’s racing my friends on a bouncy-house obstacle course at Springfest, joking around while learning new songs with the Syrens or chatting about life while weeding in the fields at the College Farm, the people I’ve met have created such a wonderful sense of community and care," she says.

Majors:

Anthropology and archaeology.

Hometown:

Harleysville, Pa.

Clubs and organizations:

Syrens, College Farm, Department of Admissions (student worker), Liberty Cap (tour guide), Center for Sustainability Education (intern) and Dickinson Coalition for Mutual Liberation.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

Provost Scholarship, Dean’s List, Baird Sustainability Fellow and the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium’s Pennsylvania Campus Sustainability Champion Award.

Best thing about my Dickinson experience:

The people for sure! They breathe life into this campus. Whether it’s racing my friends on a bouncy-house obstacle course at Springfest, joking around while learning new songs with the Syrens or chatting about life while weeding in the fields at the College Farm, the people I’ve met have created such a wonderful sense of community and care that I will deeply miss when I leave.

Favorite class/learning experience:

My favorite learning experience at Dickinson has definitely been working on the farm. Working outside all day changed my worldview. Caring for the land brought me such a sense of fulfillment, and it taught me so much about myself, the community and, obviously, plants. I discovered what mattered to me and connected more deeply with the community around me, both at Dickinson and in Carlisle. The farm also taught me how to work hard and tough it through a difficult task. Those experiences have helped me grow into who I am, and I can’t recommend enough that everyone spend a little bit of time at the farm, getting in touch with the Earth.

Favorite professor:

I can’t choose between my two archaeology professors, Associate Professor of Archaeology Andrew Dufton and Assistant Professor of Archaeology Matthew Biwer.

Professor Dufton’s classes have been some of the most insightful classes I’ve taken at Dickinson, and his teachings have changed the way I see the discipline and the world. It was also such a great experience working with him as a teaching assistant for his Archaeological Methods class, setting up the Keck Archaeology Lab’s dig simulator for students and helping them with some archaeology basics. Professor Biwer has an infectious passion for what he does, and that passion shows in his lectures and chats during office hours and in his care for the campus community. It was his Environmental Archaeology class that actually inspired me to declare an archaeology major.

About my internship:

This past summer I interned at the Center for Sustainability Education, and it was amazing, because it allowed me to have so many new experiences in the areas I’m interested in. My boss, Lindsey Lyons, is an extremely helpful mentor. I’ve learned about what goes into making a project or idea happen, and I’ve even gained some hands-on experience in beekeeping. I get to do a little bit of everything, whether that’s working in the pollinator gardens, helping kids pump up their bike tires or researching potential new sustainability projects that would benefit the Dickinson community.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

It’s easy and comforting to stay at home and skip that thing you were thinking of maybe going to. But you don’t make memories and form deep connections and live the life you want to live by avoiding the uncomfortable. Do it alone, do it nervous and don’t be afraid to be a little awkward or inexperienced. You’ll find people are kinder than you hoped.

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Published October 15, 2025