Biography
Fall 2021
On-Campus Office Hours:
Tuesday: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Virtual Office Hours via Zoom:
Wednesday: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Zoom URL : https://psu.zoom.us/j/98145076887
Marijke Hecht is an Assistant Professor in the Recreation Park & Tourism program. Before entering academia, she worked in Pittsburgh’s parks for 14 years where she spearheaded two major projects – advocating for the Nine Mile Run aquatic ecosystem restoration, one of the largest urban stream restorations in the U.S., and managing the design and construction of the Frick Environmental Center, a public education and welcome center that is net-zero water and energy and is LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certified. In her previous role as the Director of Education for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, she also led the organization’s efforts to expand and diversify participation in parks based environmental education programs.
Area(s) of Expertise:
Environmental interest & identity development; Urban environmental education; Urban park stewardship; Sustainable design; Research-practice partnerships
Research, Professional or Personal Interests:
I bring an interdisciplinary approach to my teaching & research, weaving together environmental education, community-based ecological design, learning sciences, and naturalist practices. I am particularly interested in how urban greenspaces can be used as sites for learning, advocacy, and stewardship and how human and nonhuman nature interact in these spaces.
Publications
See Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DkvBVJcAAAAJ&hl=en
Education
University of Pittsburgh | PhD, Learning Sciences | 2020
University of Vermont | MS, Botany (Field Naturalist Program) | 2002
Hampshire College | BA, Nutritional Anthropology | 1996