Zach Reitler

Zach is a Junior University Scholar from Austin, Texas, concentrating in Environmental Studies and Environmental Health Science, with a proposed secondary major in Environmental Science. He lives in Alexander Hall within the Honors Residential College and plans to obtain a master’s degree in ecology before pursuing a government career in ecosystem and resource management. Outside of the classroom, Zach is highly engaged in extracurricular and professional activities. 

On campus, he serves on the HRC College Council’s Spiritual Life Committee and as a Small Group leader for Koinonia InterVarsity. His environmental fieldwork and professional experience include spending the summer of 2025 in the Galapagos Islands with Dr. Cole Matson conducting aquatic science monitoring, as well as interning with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) during the summer of 2026 to develop wastewater treatment permits and gain regulatory experience.

Zach’s favorite reading list book is Francesco Petrarch’s My Secret Book. His thesis is a systematic literature review examining how increasing heat stress associated with climate change may affect the risk of heart and lung disease in the United States, with particular attention to the geographic and socioeconomic factors that make certain populations more vulnerable. During his time at Baylor, he has worked with faculty mentor Dr. Erich Seamon.

When asked for his advice to new students, Zach shares: “University Scholars is such a unique and rewarding program, as its flexibility and open-ended nature allows you to take not only gen ed’s but also more advanced courses that fall under your concentrations early on. This gives you more time throughout your undergraduate career to explore both potential career paths and subjects that just spark your interests and curiosity. By taking advantage of that freedom, you can build a more holistic, personally meaningful, and intellectually enriching education.”