Lara Pacifici

Lara Pacifici is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. She specializes in undergraduate education within wildlife and conservation biology, emphasizing hands-on research experiences and curriculum development. Her professional affiliations include leadership roles in the College of Natural Resources and involvement with the FWCB Undergraduate Opportunities program.

Education:

• B.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (2000)
• M.S., Auburn University (2003)
• Ph.D., University of Georgia (2010)

Research Interests: Dr. Pacifici focuses on enhancing undergraduate research opportunities in wildlife biology and conservation. She has designed programs integrating fieldwork with academic training, particularly targeting student engagement in ecological monitoring and conservation projects. Her work bridges classroom learning with real-world applications, such as tracking black bear populations and managing coastal bird habitats.

Grants & Projects:

• Red Cockaded Woodpecker Monitoring Internship (2016): Supported habitat management planning through student-led data collection in Bladen Lakes State Forest.
• Waterbird Management and Investigations Program (2014): Involved undergraduate students in monitoring coastal bird populations along North Carolina’s barrier islands.

Teaching: Courses include FW 221 (Conservation of Natural Resources), FW 313 (Mountain Wildlife Ecology), and FW 415 (Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology).