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 Plymouth State University
Professional Certificate Food Systems Leadership, University of Vermont
M.Ed. Earth Systems Science Education, Plymouth State University
B.A. Education, Developmental Psychology, Plymouth State University

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, Plymouth State University, and in progress an EdD in Leadership & Community with an environmental justice focus.Anticipated completion December 2022-Plymouth State University.

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 Plymouth State University 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 Plymouth State University 2010
Teaching Earth Systems Science Fellowship 2011

Memberships / Affiliations

White Mountain Trails Collective Board Member 2019-present
Plymouth State University 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