Laura Lienk

Bio: Laura Lee Lienk is co-director of the Watershed Institute at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB.) She also serves as the Director of Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project and the Coordinator of Service Learning in the Applied Science and Technology at CSUMB.

In her role as Coordinator of Service Learning, Laura Lee works with faculty in Biology, Math, Environmental Studies, and Computer Science and Technology to find community partners to work with hundreds of college students each year to take the students' learning beyond university classrooms. Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project, with which Ms. Lienk has been involved since 1995, is an initiative that guides K-12 educators and students in completing restoration and native plant demonstration garden projects. Thirty-five local schools are involved. Each year, more than 25 large community and school planting events take place and involve an average of 4,000 participants per event.

Laura Lee is presently coordinating a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) academic learning community, funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The partners involved in this "best practices" effort include high school math teachers, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, Monterey Regional Waste Management District, high school biology teachers, and the Agricultural and Land Based Training Association.

Master Skills: Partner Networking, Program Development

Laura Speaks:
Hear Laura in her own words!

Laura describes the 'Return of the Natives Restoration Project'.