Rachelle Lyons

Rachelle Lyons

Assistant Professor of Practice
Phone: (603) 535-3270
Office: Tourism, Environment & Sustainable Societies, Boyd Science Center, MSC 48, Plymouth, NH 03264

EdD Candidate ³È×ÓÊÓƵapp
Professional Certificate Food Systems Leadership, University of Vermont
M.Ed. Earth Systems Science Education, ³È×ÓÊÓƵapp
B.A. Education, Developmental Psychology, ³È×ÓÊÓƵapp

Rachelle’s teaching and research experiences span content in food system sustainability, community scale change in complex systems, natural resource stewardship, hunger/food waste reduction and environmental justice.

Much of her work has focused on developing field-based opportunities for students to connect with community/partner identified needs and interests. Rachelle holds multiple certificates and degrees: Teaching Earth System Science Certificate, University of New Hampshire, Food System Leadership Professional Certificate,University of Vermont, M.A in Education w/Environmental Science focus, ³È×ÓÊÓƵapp, and in progress an EdD in Leadership & Community with an environmental justice focus.Anticipated completion December 2022-³È×ÓÊÓƵapp.

Courses Taught

  • Environmental Science and Policy I & II
  • Foundations of Environmental Policy
  • Environmental Field Studies
  • Environmental Science for non-science majors
  • Tackling a Wicked Problem Water Resources
  • Tackling a Wicked Problem Hunger and Food Waste
  • Local Action to Preserve Biodiversity
  • Sustainability Capstone
  • Special Topics Brook Trout as Indicator Species
  • Special Topics Food Recovery
  • Issues in Sustainability

Funded Research

Assessing New Hampshire’s Meat Processing Capacity funded by New Hampshire Department of Agriculture 2014

Clean Water Healthy Trout Project funded by Trout Unlimited Embrace-a-Stream Program 2014-2016

Ammonoosuc River/Stream Crossing Assessment Project a multi-agency collaboration funded by the Fifteen Mile Falls Mitigation and Enhancement Fund 2016-2017

Local Action to Preserve Biodiversity-Vernal Pool Stewardship; Mapping Habitat, Migration Hotspots and Disease funded by ³È×ÓÊÓƵapp Clusters 2016-2018

Additional Grant Funded Projects:

  • Haverhill Civic Engagement
  • Keep Growing  Rural Agricultural Viability Project
  • Copper Cannon Camp STEAM Outreach
  • Understanding Hunger on Campus University System of New Hampshire
  • North Country Resource Conservation & Development Council
  • Local Harvest Promotion Rural Business Development Grant

Community & Conference Presentations

2017 Community Action Flood Resiliency Workshop Series for Ammonoosuc Watershed Municipal Leadership

2017 New Hampshire Water and Watershed Conference- Watershed Scale Assessment to Promote Community Restoration Priorities 

2016 New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commission Annual Meeting- Tools and Techniques to Assess and Protect Community Infrastructure Presentation

2015 New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission Executive Directors Annual Meeting- Using Watershed Scale Infrastructure Data to Foster Collaborative Decision Making for Resilience and Environmental Stewardship.

2015 New Hampshire Food Alliance- Local Leader Workshop on Improving Access to Healthy Locally Produced Food in Rural New England

2013 Haverhill Civic Engagement Initiative Community Listening Session Series

Experiential and Service Learning

STEM-based Field Education: developed and coordinated interdisciplinary learning opportunities, including service trips, community programs, and field-based learning opportunities for students and community members. Examples include:

  • Common Ground Annual Day of Farm Service  
  • Light Pollution Impacts and Opportunities
  • Who Grew My Lunch – Food Literacy Outreach
  • Aquaculture Field Engagement Program
  • Winter Ecology Field Engagement Program
  • Food Waste Advocacy NH Food Alliance
  • Source-to-Sea River Clean-up Ammonoosuc Watershed  ‘15 &’16
  • Clean Water Healthy Trout Freshwater Stewardship STEAM Outreach

Honors and Awards

Campus Compact- Presidents’ Good Steward 2019
Nominated for Outstanding Faculty Award 2015
Outstanding Non-traditional Undergraduate Award ³È×ÓÊÓƵapp 2010
Teaching Earth Systems Science Fellowship 2011

Memberships / Affiliations

White Mountain Trails Collective Board Member 2019-present
³È×ÓÊÓƵapp CoLab Cluster Pedagogy Learning Community Fellow 2019
Ammonoosuc Chapter of Trout Unlimited Board Member 2014-2019
New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection Vice President 2013-2017
Food Solutions New England New Hampshire Delegate 2015-2017
New Hampshire Food Alliance Action Team Member 2014-2015