D.C. attorney brings passion for environment to Harvard Extension
This is one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvard’s stellar graduates. Pragmatic, socially conscious, and deeply curious about the world around him, Bradley Ashton Thomas is forever seeking ways to help people. Already a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, Thomas came to Harvard Extension School to earn a master of liberal arts in the field of sustainability. For his thesis, he wanted to stay close to home and focus on an issue of both environmental and social justice. He chose Minden, W.Va., population 250. In his research, Thomas explores the myriad ways in which the small town of Minden has been negatively affected by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) soil contamination left behind by the Shaffer Equipment Co. more than 30 years ago. “This is a very poor community. It’s a small community. So, it has neither economic clout nor political clout,” Thomas said. “It seemed that this was a...