Heather Triezenberg

Dr. Heather Triezenberg serves as the Michigan Sea Grant Extension Associate Director and Program Leader through Michigan State University (MSU) Extension's Community, Food & Environment Institute. She holds a faculty appointment in the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife within the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. As a member of the Michigan Sea Grant Management Team, Triezenberg guides integrated program planning, implementation, evaluation, partnerships, and pre-/post-award activities. She joined Michigan Sea Grant in 2014 as an Extension Specialist and Program Coordinator before being named Associate Director in 2022.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Policy and Management from Cornell University (2010), an M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University (2006), and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University (2002).

Dr. Triezenberg's research focuses on how stakeholders perceive risks related to Great Lakes issues and community-engaged approaches for Extension, outreach, and engagement scholarship. Her work examines risk perception and communication related to Great Lakes coastal hazards, as well as stewardship motivations and collaborative governance of Great Lakes coastal wildlife management areas. She is an affiliate of the MSU Institute of Water Research and serves on the boards of the MSU Quantitative Fisheries Center and the MSU Institute of Water Research.

Her recent publications demonstrate expertise in environmental communication, risk perception, Great Lakes management, and extension education, with particular emphasis on harmful algal blooms, water education for local leaders, and community engagement in oceans and human health. These works reflect her commitment to translating scientific knowledge into practical applications for communities and policymakers.

• Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals gold award for a referred journal article
• NASA-MSU for early career scholars fellowship
• MSU Extension meritorious service award

Dr. Triezenberg has served in leadership roles including past chair (2021-2022) of the Assembly of Sea Grant Extension Program Leaders, where she acted as liaison to NOAA's National Sea Grant Advisory Board. She was previously chair-elect (2019-2020) and an at-large member (2016-2017) of the Assembly. From 2017-2022, she served on the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Board Science Collaborative Advisory Board. She is a graduate of the Great Lakes Leadership Academy Advancement Program focusing on leading for the common good.

Her work extends to mentoring graduate students, including MSU graduate student Alexandra Benitez-Gonzalez, whose research was highlighted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Triezenberg has been instrumental in developing decision-support tools including the Great Lakes online dashboard for HABs and human health and the Inland HABs and human health risk mapper.