Cleveland Metroparks Director of Natural Resources to present environmental lecture on April 4

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s Environmental Lecture Series will conclude its 2023-24 programming with a presentation by Jennifer Grieser, director of natural resources at Cleveland Metroparks, on Thursday, April 4. This talk will take place at Ronk Lecture Hall inside AU’s Dwight Schar College of Education, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. There is also an option to attend via a webinar. Participants can register for the webinar at ashland.edu/event/environmental-lecture-series-water.

Grieser will present “How Cleveland Metroparks Benefits Northeast Ohio Through Comprehensive Watershed Management.” She will describe how her organization’s watershed management system not only benefits visitors and wildlife within the park system but also the broader community. The Cleveland Metroparks consist of more than 25,000 acres across four major watersheds of Lake Erie and several smaller tributaries, a system that presents complex challenges. The park district provides beneficial ecosystem services through responsible management of natural areas like floodplains, wetlands and forests. Cleveland Metroparks also improves water quality and water quantity throughout the region via storm water control features associated with its built environment.

Dedicated to improving the environment, Grieser is in her 14th year with the Cleveland Metroparks. She was senior natural resources manager before being promoted to director of natural resources. She also serves as chair of the Cuyahoga Area of Concern Advisory Committee and as a trustee of the Chagrin River Watershed Partners.

Grieser holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in environmental policy and natural resource management from Indiana University.

More information about the 2023-24 Environmental Lecture Series, with a theme of “Does green infrastructure improve urban environments?” is available at ashland.edu/environmental-lecture-series.

The AU Environmental Lecture Series, implemented in 1991-92, allows students, faculty and members of the North Central Ohio community to interact with leaders in environmental science and policy. Current support for the series is provided by donations from individuals and support from Ashland University, while previous series have been supported by AU and grants from the National Science Foundation, the Lubrizol Foundation, the GTE Foundation and the Fran and Warren Rupp Foundation.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.