Laura Sanders, Ph.D. Professor of Earth Science. Project Director.
Dr. Sanders grew up in a working class family in a Rust Belt town in eastern Ohio. Her parents emphasized the importance of education. They made sure all eight of their kids went to college with family support, scholarships, grants, loans and jobs. As a girl she enjoyed playing in woods and fields, and she especially loved creeks and rivers. When she got to college and learned that geologists get paid for working outdoors, she was hooked. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., and a Ph.D. in Applied Geology from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
As a hydrologist at NEIU, Dr. Sanders teaches a variety of water-related courses, along with introductory Earth Science and First-Year Experience courses. For three decades she has mentored students doing research into water resources, water quality, and flooding.
Funded by National Science Foundation DUE Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program Award 1832421.
