The Rethinking Lawns Project is made up of folks of a bunch of different expertises, but all sharing a love for plants and the species they support.
Becky Barak, Ph.D.
Conservation Science
Chicago Botanic Garden
@BeckSamBar
Becky is an Assistant Conservation Scientist at Chicago Botanic Garden and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University in the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. Becky studies seed biology and biodiversity in restored tallgrass prairies, and how decisions are made for restoration, particularly for seed mix design.
Rebecca Tonietto, Ph.D.
Community Ecology & Conservation Biology
University of Michigan – Flint
@BeckyTonietto
Rebecca is an Assistant Professor at University of Michigan–Flint in the Department of Natural Sciences. She studies native bees and plants that support them in urban and restored landscapes, with a focus on how we can alter our cities to benefit bees.
Lauren Umek, Ph.D.
Urban Ecology
Chicago Park District
@lglyndal
Lauren is a Project Manager at the Chicago Park District, managing natural area sites all over the Chicagoland area. She studies urban restoration ecology, invasive species, and their impacts on soil.
Liz Anna Kozik
Research Scientist
Chicago Botanic Garden
@chase_prairie
Liz is an artist, storyteller, and social scientist, doing all of the above as the Rethinking Lawns Research Coordinator. She uses art and comics to share stories of midwestern landscapes and the intertwined relationships between people and plants. Mostly, she draws pictures and talks too much about goldenrod.
Natalie Love
Assistant Professor / Conservation Scientist
Stantec (formerly Cardno)
Chicago Botanic Garden
Natalie is very cool and knows lots of things about remote sensing.
Tony Troche
Senior Project Scientist / Botanist
Stantec (formerly Cardno)
Tony is part of the Stantec (formerly Cardno) team assisting Chicago Park District restore over 1,500 acres of natural areas. He’s a proper plant nerd and a fan of Thismia americana, Chicago’s own endemic, potentially extinct semi-parasitic plant.
Current Students
Tonietto Lab
University of Michigan – Flint
[TBD]
Barak Lab
Chicago Botanic Garden / Northwestern University
Libby Shafer
Brian Lovejoy
Past Collaborators:
Students
Aidden Tappia
Alexandra Zink
Emily Woodworth
Alex Nobert
Alex Peake
Tonietto Lab
Rose Menzies
Larissa Kohn-Magee
Jazlynne Cathey
Trent Adams
Tony Nosike
Tonietto Lab
University of Michigan – Flint
Rethinking Lawns 