‘Dickinson Has Allowed Me to Effect Positive Change’
Student Snapshot: Luke Heller ’27
“Dickinson has exceeded my expectations. It’s allowed me to effect positive change on campus, in the wider Carlisle community and in different parts of the country,” says Luke Heller ’27. Luke is involved with civic and sustainability initiatives on campus and beyond, working to combat inequality in Richmond and contributing to an affordable-housing project in Charleston. For his thesis project, he's exploring the intersection between climate risk and housing prices in Pennsylvania.
Hometown:
Tallahassee, Fla.
High school:
Lawton Chiles High School.
Majors:
Quantitative economics and environmental studies, with a minor in music.
Best thing about my Dickinson experience:
The atmosphere on campus is very supportive and welcoming. Many of my peers inspire me with their intellect and talent, but they are also genuinely nice people. My peers and my professors know me by name, and they support me.
Best thing about my major:
Majoring in quantitative economics and environmental studies allows me to learn about the similarities between how societies function and how humans interact with the environment. I also am able to interact with other students across a wide range of academic disciplines.
On choosing Dickinson:
I chose Dickinson because of its strong academic reputation, its small size and its commitment to sustainability and experiential learning. My experience at Dickinson has exceeded my expectations. It’s allowed me to effect positive change on campus, in the wider Carlisle community and in different parts of the country.
Favorite class/learning experience:
I’ve participated in multiple service learning trips through the Center for Civic Learning & Action, and I spent the past academic year as one of the college’s service trip coordinators. I worked alongside a like-minded group of students and changemakers to combat socioeconomic inequality in Richmond, Va., and to help build affordable housing in Charleston, S.C. I learned just as much from my peers as I did from our community partners. These experiences helped me better understand how to effect positive change in communities.
Proudest accomplishment so far:
I play the cello in the Dickinson Orchestra, as the assistant principal cellist. The music we rehearse is both challenging and rewarding. I also competed in Dickinson’s annual Concerto Competition this past fall.
On studying abroad:
I studied at New College of Florida in Sarasota, Fla., through the EcoLeague consortium. This experience allowed me to continue my studies in a unique natural and political context and meet peers and professors elsewhere in the country who shared my academic interests and passions.
About my research:
I’m completing my thesis under the supervision of Associate Professor of Economics Anthony Underwood, who has taught courses on population economics, urban economics and environmental economics. My research focuses on the intersection between climate risk and housing prices in Pennsylvania. I'm in the process of completing my literature review and beginning to compile a list of different data sources.
Clubs and organizations:
Center for Civic Learning & Action, Center for Sustainability Education, Outing Club and Sustainability Collective.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
The most important thing I’ve learned at Dickinson is the importance of networking. Networking is crucial to success in almost every career field. Through networking, I’ve learned about opportunities I did not previously know existed. Networking has also allowed me to meet and learn from various professionals at different career stages who could serve as helpful contacts as I prepare to launch my career.
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Published July 22, 2026