Dr. Tuchman holds a doctoral degree in aquatic ecology from the University of Louisville, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in biology/ecology from Central Michigan University. She plays a pivotal role in leading Loyola University Chicago’s Environmental Sustainability initiatives, including founding the Institute of Environmental Sustainability which launched in fall 2013 and how serves 400 undergraduate students in 6 different majors, with graduate programming coming on line in fall 2019. She is instrumental in advancing environmental and economic justice at the level of the International Association of Jesuit Universities, the worldwide network of 211 Jesuit colleges and universities, and is committed to advancing the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus in her work.
In addition to building a truly interdisciplinary curricula and faculty in the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, and promoting hand-on, solution-based experiences for students, her research investigates human impacts on aquatic ecosystems, including ecological impacts of climate change, and invasive plant species on Great Lakes coastal wetland ecosystems.
Recent related publications include:
Lawrence BA, Lishawa SC, Hurst N, Castillo BT, Tuchman NC. 2017. Wetland invasion by Typha × glauca increases soil methane emissions. Aquatic Botany. 137 (1): 80-87.
Lawrence BA, Burke K, Lishawa SC, Tuchman NC. 2016. Typha invasion associated with reduced aquatic macroinvertebrate abundance in northern Lake Huron coastal wetlands. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 42 (6): 1412-1419.
Lawrence BA, Lishawa SC, Rodriguez Y, Tuchman NC. 2016. Herbicide management of invasive cattail (Typha × glauca) increases porewater nutrient concentrations. Wetlands Ecology and Management. 24 (4): 457-467.