Jason Koski/University Photography

Lisa Gilbertson '07 stands in the stairwell of her Collegetown apartment. Gilbertson graduated a semester early from Cornell and plans to return home to Elko, Nev., to pursue a career in environmental conservation. Copyright © Cornell University

Considering her roots as a native of small-town Nevada, with the outdoors in her blood, it wasn't hard for Lisa Gilbertson '07 to feel at home in Ithaca.

Having graduated from Cornell a semester early this week, she will head back home, where she hopes to pursue a career in environmental conservation -- a career path she has long sought.

By loading up on credits this past semester, Gilbertson graduated early with a double major in sociology and environmental politics. The latter is a major she created through the College Scholars program.

With her aspirations to work in the policy side of nature conservation -- in part inspired by her father, who works in the state of Nevada Department of Wildlife -- Gilbertson created the major by combining government, city and regional planning, and natural resources courses.

As Gilbertson reflects on her time at Cornell, she is grateful for the sum of her experiences, inside and outside the classroom.

"I know myself and what I want to do so much better," she said. "As much as I thought I did when I came in, it really has evolved, and I feel much more certain that I'm doing what I should be doing."

Beyond her major, Gilbertson has served as a clerk for every assembly on campus. As a Cornell Tradition scholar, she has taken advantage of opportunities for community service by volunteering with the Family Reading Partnership in Ithaca and Judy's Day at the Cornell Plantations. She has also served as vice chair of external relations of the Student Assembly Finance Committee.

"If there's one thing I learned at Cornell, it's that one person can make a difference," she said.