Matthew Cowin, Staff Writer
Dr. Thomas Reppert serves as an assistant professor of neuroscience and psychology at Sewanee. He earned a Bachelors’ in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech University, a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and performed post-doctoral research at Vanderbilt University before arriving at The University of the South in 2020. Hailing from rural Richmond, Virginia., Reppert detailed the early academic, geographic and social experiences that cement his experience at Sewanee.
Reppert discovered his interest in STEM academia in his high school years. “I was interested in science and especially liked my math and physics classes. Their intersecting ideas pushed me to study engineering.” The core of his high school experience led him to Virginia Tech University, where he would pursue his degree.
Starting his undergraduate career at a large, public, state university in Blacksburg, Virginia was initially daunting.. Reppert noted college as his first experience outside of his small hometown. “I’m originally from Mechanicsville, Virginia, which is why people joke that I chose engineering. Virginia Tech was my first place outside of the microcosm of Mechanicsville, and I had to find communities within campus.”
Reppert soon grew to love Virginia Tech for its beautiful landscape and ability to link like-minded people together. “I really enjoyed Virginia Tech; the surrounding area was very much like Sewanee. There were mountains and fall colors, and I went hiking on the weekends. Much of my social experience was from my engineering buddies – we would study, hike and go to the pub together.”
Reppert realized the shift in his professional interest from engineering to neuroscience through his internship experiences later in college. “I interned for Boeing on the West Coast, working for national space-based defense systems. I quickly realized this wasn’t what I wanted to do and needed to take my skills elsewhere, leading me to pursue an early career in neuroscience.”
After college, Reppert pursued the opportunity to study and work professionally in the neuroscience field while abroad in Spain. “My first year was a Fulbright scholarship as a research assistant in Zaragoza, and my second was work in bioengineering.” Spain also furthered his interactions with various peoples and global cultures. “I met close Spanish friends I’m still in touch with today. I was also aware of how other parts of the world view the U.S.; during my tenure there was a fair amount of European anti-American sentiment during the Bush Administration.”
Returning to the U.S., Reppert’s experience in bioengineering earned him acceptance into Johns Hopkins’ biomedical engineering program. He credited his studies in Baltimore for expanding his neuroscience knowledge. “Grad school took hold of my interests in neuroscience within the medical environment. I took advantage of listening to neurology rants with hospital residents and performed case studies. Though the fast pace was difficult, I studied different neurological conditions as well as human learning, attention, and decision-making.”
He placed additional emphasis on Baltimore’s welcoming urban environment. “Baltimore is known as the Charm City, and I lived there for seven years. I used to jog along the harbor and occasionally go to the pub with grad school friends.” His neuroscience studies led him to a postdoctoral position at Vanderbilt University to perform further scientific research of the brain.
Reppert noted the similar rigorous academic environments between Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt. “Post-doc was super fast-paced like grad school, and I always felt behind. It was where I first worked with single neuron data.” To ease the transition, Reppert found his place by working in animal labs. “I saw I was comfortable in labs working with live animals. During post-doc research, I worked every day and developed a close relationship with one Macaque Monkey, Leo, named after the famous scientist Leonardo De Vinci.”
In addition, Reppert described Nashville’s growing population and culture as deeply characteristic to his Vanderbilt experience. “Nashville was different from Baltimore in that it was growing with people and the place to be. I also liked the country music scene where concerts were free of charge.”
Reppert stated that his time at Vanderbilt ended as COVID-19 erupted across the U.S. while his tenure was closing. “I needed a next step. A current position opened up at Sewanee – it seemed like the natural fit.”
Reppert credited Sewanee’s small atmosphere as integral to his decision to accept the offer. “Like Virginia Tech, it had the mountain setting that I liked, though I always wished I could’ve experienced a smaller school. I felt the first small liberal arts college I was a part of fit me personally.”
His first year teaching online during the pandemic was difficult, and during this time he attests to the value of interpersonal connections with students and colleagues. To Reppert, this is integral to his flourishing Sewanee experience. “I enjoy working with students and colleagues across the two departments.” He expressed excitement about the future for growth in both departments.
Reppert is glad about the growing student interest, which he believes is essential to his departments and their expansion. “Psychology is one of the largest majors, and neuroscience has grown quite a bit since I joined. I’m excited to see where the program is going now that Dr. Shelley is the new chair. I’m sure she will do a great job and [I] am grateful for the expanding interest in the programs.” In addition to his various lived experiences and distinct academic resume, Reppert’s experience with interpersonal connections is most present in his flourishing tenure in the domain.