This summer, Anthony Finch ’26 (Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Earth-Space Science) entered uncharted territory. He had never worked a traditional 9-to-5 job. He knew little about environmental policy. He had little to no background in atmospheric science. While some may have seen those as deterrents, Finch saw them as opportunities.
An internship with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Air Quality (OAQ) has put him out of his comfort zone. “It’s my first ‘real job’, since being a swim instructor,” he joked.
Since May, Finch has been reviewing air permit applications from different industries across Indiana, helping ensure businesses comply with both state and federal rules outlined in the federal Clean Air Act, EPA regulations and the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) . Each action or move he makes goes through an additional twenty-step process.
“It has opened my eyes to the complexity of the air we breathe and helped me understand how different state and federal guidelines work together to protect it,” said Finch. His goal isn’t to have all the answers, but to instead ask more questions. His willingness to embrace the unknown started long before his internship.
The Aurora, Illinois, native strongly considered attending Illinois State. It was his older brother’s alma mater, several of his classmates planned to enroll there, and it was close to home. It was the familiar choice.
Instead, Finch chose the unfamiliar, enrolling at UIndy and moving to a state where he didn’t know anyone. Coming from Chicagoland, where water polo is highly popular, Finch found a sense of belonging by joining the UIndy club water polo team. The team provided him with a familiar piece of home as he adjusted to his new one. “Once you find your community at UIndy, you’re surrounded by people who share your values, encourage your growth, and motivate you to succeed,” said Finch.
Starting as an environmental science major, Finch wasn’t sure where his interests would ultimately lead. His mind acted like a sponge, as he was exposed to biology, geology, and chemistry, each giving him a better understanding of how the world works. “The instructors at UIndy guide you,” Finch said. “They help you discover your interests and introduce you to another class you might not have considered.”
As coursework began overlapping between study areas, Finch realized that with only a handful of additional classes, he could graduate with three majors instead of one.
In a typical college experience, students focus on one major. While double majors are becoming more common, triple majors remain rare. “If it means taking one more class to get a triple major, why not take Astronomy?” Finch said. Chasing three majors wasn’t the initial plan; he just followed his interests. Finch completed 148 credits in four years. Had he pursued just one major, he estimates he could have graduated in three.
Not only did UIndy’s multidisciplinary approach allow Finch to explore his passions, it opened doors to new research. Finch landed two prestigious, highly competitive National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) opportunities.
The first came at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2023. Finch once again found himself starting over in a new place. “I went with just a suitcase.,” said Finch. “I had a little bunny hop from Chicago to Indy, before going to the East Coast to live on my own again in the summer.”
During his time in Wilmington, Finch studied how severe weather affects coastlines, helping researchers develop better methods for tracking shoreline erosion and preparing communities for storms.
A second research opportunity had him packing his bags once again, this time for Hampton, Virginia, adding another temporary home to an already growing list.
At Hampton University, Finch used NASA’s Pandora spectrometer to investigate how emissions from ships, vehicles, and aircraft influence air quality. His research sparked more questions, specifically, why do these emissions exist? He will continue to uncover these questions when he returns to Hampton for graduate school, shifting his focus from studying the Earth below to studying the atmosphere above. “For grad school, instead of looking down, I like to say I’m going to be looking up,” he said.
The decision to attend UIndy has encouraged Finch to chase the unknown, whether it be a new area of study, a new experience, or a new destination. “Starting somewhere new shouldn’t be something you’re scared of,” said Finch. “It’s a new level. You get to start over.”
Every unfamiliar place has become an opportunity for Finch, not because he knows what will happen, but because he is willing to find out.