An environmental engineering major, a sustainability management minor, a mine reclamation intern, an Eagle Scout, a Bonner Leader, a director and producer for WilkesNOW, a bassist, a drummer and a scare actor walk into a professor’s office. The professor says, “Hi, Ian.”
All kidding aside, the amount of course work, community service, campus activities and entertainment Ian Padden fits into a day is no joke. Since his first days on campus, the junior from Laurel Run, Pennsylvania, has carved out a niche that’s uniquely his own, learning, leading and helping every step of the way.
“I like spending my time doing things that are valuable to me and trying to brighten other people’s days along the way,” says Padden. “I like to be that guy.”
When “that guy” was in the college search process, Wilkes was one of 11 colleges he applied to and one of four he toured. Though some other schools made decent offers, one thing drew Padden to Wilkes — the personal touch. Nelson Anaya, assistant professor of mechanical and electrical engineering, met with Padden and showed off the labs in the Mark Engineering Center during his visit.
“With his attention to detail and our one-on-one talk,” says Padden, “he sold me.”
As a first-year student, Padden was sold on the idea of pursuing a mechanical engineering major on the way to a career as a roller coaster engineer. Then he felt his talent and passion pulling him in another direction and switched his major to environmental engineering.
Before he made the change, Padden met with Saritha Karnae, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, to discuss the change of major. Though she’s not his academic advisor, Padden thinks of Karnae as a mentor, and she’s happy to provide guidance whenever she can.
“Just because I’m not your advisor doesn’t mean you can’t come talk to me,” says Karnae. She and others in the department have a reputation for building a rapport with students that surpasses setting up course schedules. “We have a very strong mentoring philosophy,” says Karnae. “We go above and beyond to advise students and to help them with their careers and being responsible citizens in the community.”
Padden got a head start on his journey to responsible citizenship as a Cub Scout, working his way up to the rank of Eagle Scout. And there’s no doubt that his experiences outdoors and his time as a camper and staff member at Goose Pond Scout Reservation in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, helped lead to his major in environmental engineering and minor in sustainability management.
“The environment has been a huge part of my life since I was seven or eight years old, going on hikes with the Cub Scouts,” says Padden. “I’m very, very happy with my switch.”
Marleen Troy, professor of civil and environmental engineering, sees the power in the combination of Padden’s commitment to help the planet and serve others. “Ian has a lot of potential, a lot of passion and drive to solve problems,” says Troy. “We need more people helping out with a lot of the challenges we face.”
As a member of the Bonner Leader Program, a unique work-study experience that blends community service and leadership development, Padden transforms his passion for the environment and classroom knowledge into real-world impact. His chosen job site for the Bonner Leader Program is EPCAMR, the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.
Padden’s work for the non-profit includes the opportunity to get outdoors for litter cleanup and stream assessments, as well as office projects like redesigning the website, creating a database of community partners, transcribing 800 pages of mine records and designing a commemorative coin for the organization’s 30th annual dinner. He also expanded the work-study position to a paid summer EPCAMR internship through AmeriCorps.
In addition to serving his environmental interests, EPCAMR gives Padden the opportunity to practice time management skills and encourages him to work independently. “I ended up with more projects than I had time for,” says Padden. But the good news is, he’ll continue at the site during the academic year.
While Padden loves looking out for the Earth, he has some other interests on his to-do list. He’s been involved with WilkesNOW, the campus TV station, since his first year on campus. His introduction came with a press pass to cover a visit from presidential candidate Kamala Harris. He’s since worked his way up the ladder, serving as director and now, producer, creating scripts and graphics and making sure station operations run smoothly.
Off campus, Padden can be found behind the drums with his band The Love Melons, winner of Best New Artist at the Steamtown Music Awards. He also plays bass for his classic/alt rock band Eraser. The trio’s first original song, “Blind,” has over 22,000 listens on Spotify and their first album is in progress.
Now that spooky season is in full swing, Padden enjoys the music of screams as he lurks in dark corners to scare innocent patrons of Gravestone Manor. The all-volunteer haunted house in Wilkes-Barre has been creating good scares for a good cause — and raising money for the United Way of Wyoming Valley — for more than 25 years.
Though he doesn’t get much down time, Padden wouldn’t change a thing. “I’m not going to do something unless I’m happy with it and having fun.”
The same goes for his time in the classroom. “I love what I’m studying,” says Padden. “It’s so fascinating. It doesn’t feel like work.”
Padden’s favorite class is Solid Waste Management, and he’s already thinking about how to put his skills to work after graduation. In a perfect world, he’ll get a job in hazardous and radioactive waste treatment for a few years. Then he wants to study for his Professional Engineer (PE) license, before earning his master’s and doctoral degree. Eventually, Padden hopes to teach at the college level, like Anaya, the mentor and faculty member who jumpstarted his Wilkes journey.
“I’ve always been such a fan of teaching and getting to inspire students and reinforce creativity,” says Padden. “And he’s the professor I want to be someday — naturally funny and always willing to help.”
For Anaya, helping students figure out their next steps as they learn from their successes and mistakes is at the heart of his career. “I like to develop the potential of my students,” says Anaya. “Sometimes they don’t realize they can do great things. But they dream, and they fight for the dream.”
While Padden’s days are full, working toward his dream hasn’t been much of a fight, thanks to the environment full of faculty, staff and friends surrounding him. “I have a pretty solid group of friends and I’m very grateful to each and every one of them because they’re all fantastic, unique people,” says Padden. “Sometimes they’re the reason I come to campus. When things get hard, I think about being able to see them, get in my car and start it up.”