Sarah Meyer

Community Outreach Coordinator

Finger Lakes Institute

A native of Geneva, NY, Sarah Anne Meyer pursued her Bachelors of Science (2000) and Masters of Professional Studies (2003) from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. Her higher education concentrated on information and technology, environmental science, and water and wetland resource studies. Sarah was appointed Community Outreach Coordinator for the Finger Lakes Institute in late April of 2004.

As Community Outreach Coordinator, Sarah provides leadership and direction for the FLI community outreach and public service program. Sarah provides ongoing lecture series, publications, educational exhibits, and internships for college students. Major projects have included creating an expanded clearinghouse of resource information; managing content of the FLI website; organizing guest lectures, public symposiums, workshops, conferences; and designing and planting the FLI Demonstration Rain Garden. Since 2004, Sarah has made significant strides to provide educational experiences pertaining to the Finger Lakes environment that benefit the Colleges’ and the Finger Lakes region. Programs include such topics as Water Quality, Invasive Species, Global Climate Change, Alternative Energies, Wildlife Management, Regional Planning, Watershed Management, Tourism and Recreation, Forest Management, Green Home Design, Gardening and Landscaping, Wine and Viticulture, and other regional environmental issues.

In addition to outreach, Sarah coordinates public service projects that include Finger Lakes beach cleanups, water quality monitoring days, field trips to regional natural areas, and an annual HWS Alternative Spring Break Trip. She often presents to area interest groups, such as research groups, garden clubs, schools, and national conferences on topics relating to the Finger Lakes.

Milestones Sarah is particularly proud of accomplishing in her 6 years at the FLI include:

• 4,000+ persons on FLI Mailing List
• 200+ Community Outreach and Public Service Events
• 4000+ attendees to FLI Events
• 1000+ Event Feedback Forms Completed since January 2006
• Catalogued 1,500+ Finger Lakes related web-accessible documents
• Advised 3 HWS Community Based Research Projects; over 30 FLI Student Program Participants

Sarah credits her early interest in the environment and protecting our natural resources to her participation in the Hobart and William Smith Science on Seneca (SOS) Educational Program, Girl Scouts of America, and the Student Conservation Association.

Since receiving her degrees she has been employed by the Federation of New York State Solid Waste Associations, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The Great Lakes Research Consortium, and the United States Forest Service Wrangell Ranger District in Wrangell, AK. Through her experiences, Sarah has gained skills in and knowledge of environmental education, information design and watershed hydrology. In her free time, Sarah enjoys kayaking within the Finger Lakes Region, travel, nature photography, cycling and gardening.