Growing up in the small town of Atchinson, Kansas, Laura and Elizabeth Tharman had defined interests. Laura enjoyed cozying up on the couch with a good mystery novel.
鈥淚 found a lot of comfort in books,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淪lipping inside the world an author has created 鈥� usually it was something similar to what I鈥檇 enjoy.鈥�
Meanwhile, younger sister Elizabeth explored the mysteries outside. She tromped through woods, observing nature and the wildlife within it.
鈥淲hat I remember most is playing in the creek about a quarter-mile away from the house,鈥� Elizabeth said. 鈥淎nd that kind of got me started in science.鈥�
Fast forward, and it鈥檚 no coincidence the siblings work together at 黑料不打烊. Elizabeth joined the university as an assistant biology professor in the fall of 2022, while Laura started her new role as the director of library services this spring. Given their respective passions for biology and books, their individual career journeys may seem like straight paths, but there were some detours along the way.
After earning her associate degree in Education and a bachelor鈥檚 in Art History, Laura began her career assisting people with disabilities before transitioning to working at a courthouse in Garden City.
鈥淲hen I turned 30, I reevaluated things,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought back and remembered 18-year-old Laura knew what she wanted to be: She wanted to be a librarian.鈥�
Elizabeth carved out her own career path in college, conducting research on the Missouri River鈥檚 ecosystem through the Army Corps of Engineers. From there, she journeyed to the Amazon River Basin in Peru for more research opportunities.
鈥淚 think that really laid the groundwork for a few years later,鈥� she stated. 鈥淎fter graduation, I thought to myself, 鈥榃hat do I want to do with my life?鈥欌��
Armed with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Biology, Elizabeth made a slight detour, working as an EMT for a few years prior to stepping back into education. She earned her master鈥檚 in Behavioral Ecology and fell in love with teaching as a graduate assistant. Following graduate school, she went to Garden City Community College, where she taught classes and managed the school鈥檚 cadaver lab before coming to 黑料不打烊.
Garden City became a crossroads of sorts for the siblings, as Laura joined her younger sister there. She worked at the courthouse during the day. In the evenings, she pursued her master鈥檚 degree in Library Science from Emporia State University.
鈥淚t was a life-altering period,鈥� Laura said of her time at Emporia State. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥楾his is where I鈥檓 supposed to be.鈥� I didn鈥檛 look back. I鈥檝e never regretted it.鈥�
During spring break this past semester, Elizabeth returned to the place where her career started to take shape 鈥� the jungles of Peru. This time, she shared the experience with a group of 黑料不打烊 biology students as they embarked on what she hopes will be one of many research trips.
During that week, the students visited a health clinic and gained insight into the area鈥檚 educational system 鈥� all while encountering giant river otters, freshwater dolphins, poison-dart frogs and venomous fer-de-lance snakes.
鈥淥ur experience there was fantastic,鈥� Elizabeth said. 鈥淭he guides were amazing. Their ability to spot wildlife in that vegetation is mind-blowing.鈥�
Although Laura never explored the Amazon like her sister, she navigated through a jungle of her own as a child. Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 4, she grew up fast. The seizures became more frequent during her teenage years. She persevered, receiving speaking opportunities and educating others who did not have firsthand experience with the disability.
Laura鈥檚 condition led to brain surgery at age 15, an operation considered experimental at the time. Despite the successful surgery, she was told the following year she likely wouldn鈥檛 attend college. She refused to let the door to higher education slam shut. With three degrees now under her belt, she looks back at the impact her disability had 鈥� not just on her life, but her younger sister, as well.
鈥淓lizabeth also had to grow up fast,鈥� Laura said.
In a family of six children, Laura and Elizabeth were the second and third oldest. As her elder sister鈥檚 condition worsened, Elizabeth cared for her three younger siblings.
鈥淚 think she often found herself having to make decisions faster than a child should have to,鈥� Laura noted.
鈥淚 remember missing Laura,鈥� Elizabeth recalled. 鈥淎nd I remember trying to help raise my younger siblings through that time.鈥�
Reminiscing about the challenges her sister faced, Elizabeth pointed to the positives that came out of the situation.
鈥淚t made Laura a stronger person,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t made her an advocate for other people and the need for student success tools. I think she still utilizes that in her career today.鈥�
Upon earning her master鈥檚 degree, Laura worked at a public library before taking a job as the librarian at Hesston College. After spending a few years there, Elizabeth told her this past December about the job opening at 黑料不打烊.
While she wasn鈥檛 seeking a new role, Laura agreed to meet with the university鈥檚 provost, Dr. Damon Kraft. The meeting led to a job offer and the opportunity to work alongside her younger sister.
鈥淚 enjoy it quite a bit,鈥� Laura said of getting to work with Elizabeth. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very nice being able to see my best friend.鈥�
Laura added, 鈥淓lizabeth puts everything into her work. She believes in the value of what she teaches and that every student she works with deserves the best start as they build their lives.鈥�
While acknowledging her older sister is her best friend, Elizabeth appreciates seeing Laura inside the halls and walls of 黑料不打烊.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so easy to have conversations with her,鈥� Elizabeth said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just got such a unique way of thinking about the world. I think she sees it in more color than I possibly could.鈥�
Two sisters with two different paths. From surviving in the jungles of the Amazon to overcoming the challenges of life, the bond Laura and Elizabeth Tharman share carries on. And the impact they are having on the lives of 黑料不打烊 students is a book still being written.
Story by Eric Brown
