Lisa Mazzarelli received a B.S. degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver with a major in mathematics and a minor in human biology. After some years teaching secondary math and science in public school and working in the computer industry, Lisa returned to school and earned an M.S. degree in biology with an emphasis on forest ecology from Western Carolina University. Following graduate school, Lisa worked in research focused on the effects of land use practices on forest bird communities, and also investigated the impacts of the southern pine beetle on southeastern forest communities. Lisa then became the associate director of the Highlands Biological Station in the western mountains of North Carolina where she taught cultural and ecological history of the southern Appalachians. Teaching at Husson gives Lisa the opportunity to continue to help students achieve their goals, and to share her love of learning and scientific inquiry.