He realized that a lot of technical jobs like forestry require communication and leadership skills, but employees are not adequately trained in these areas. For instance, in the forestry program, students learn the science and data measurement skills required by their profession. But once they become a forester, employers will require they manage the land as a team, communicate to the public through outreach and present their findings together. Tom saw this pattern and decided to change it. He hopes his gift will accelerate students\u2019 leadership skills earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked what legacy he wants to leave, Tom said: \u201cIt was an impactful question and it wasn\u2019t hard to answer when it came down to it.\u201d He wants students in natural resources fields to graduate with not only necessary technical skills but also the people skills they need to truly succeed \u2013 communication, teamwork, leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tom said undergraduate students don\u2019t have \u201ctime for group development or diversity training. There wasn\u2019t formal time for learning team building, delegation or communication skills.\u201d His gift will enable students to gain these skills from industry professionals through experiential learning, guest speakers and attending special classes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help more NC State graduates stand out in the workforce, Tom hopes others will be inspired to support their education. \u201cIf others read this or see this, I hope it encourages them to think about the time they\u2019re at in their life and if they haven\u2019t considered a gift to this school, then now is the time to consider that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tom credits his success to his wife, Ellen. From the beginning of their relationship, Ellen did everything she could to support Tom\u2019s career, even providing baked goods. While Tom was at Summer Camp in Hill Forest, Ellen came every Friday to deliver homemade cheesecake. \u201cShe was like an apparition with this gift for me that, of course, I would have to share with dozens of other people,\u201d Tom said. After they both graduated, they moved several times for Tom\u2019s career. \u201cShe sacrificed a lot for my career, which is our career, as any team would be,\u201d he said. Tom and Ellen recently celebrated 43 years of marriage, a \u201cCOVID anniversary,\u201d as he called it, with take out and locally baked cake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, he gives credit to the close-knit and family-like community in natural resources fields. Tom likened the support and encouragement he\u2019s received from fellow industry professionals to the experience of living in a small town. \u201cAs small towns go, people know each other. They care about each other. It\u2019s a privilege to serve our small town, the College of Natural Resources community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n![\"Family](\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/09\/Picture1-1024x576.jpg\")
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