Sarah Lalk

Dr. Sarah Lalk is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Geography and Geology both on-campus and online. As a Fellow with the Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL), she bridges geoscience education with community applications through the Carnegie Foundation-recognized program.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Mississippi State University (2016)
• M.S. in Geosciences, Mississippi State University (2009)
• B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Texas A&M University (2000) with minor in Geography/Social Studies

Dr. Lalk's research centers on geoscience education accessibility through informal learning environments like outdoor field explorations. She investigates how community size and economics influence environmental awareness, develops ArcGIS mobile mapping tools for community needs, and creates K-12 geoscience curricula. Her pedagogical innovations include physical hazard modeling, flipped classrooms, and fieldwork integration to enhance understanding of earth systems.

Her scholarly presentations reveal consistent themes: leveraging community characteristics to improve geoscience communication, translating field-based learning into classroom strategies, and developing hands-on activities for erosional processes. These works demonstrate her commitment to making geosciences relevant across diverse community contexts.

Her honors include:

• Community-Engaged Learning Fellow, Mississippi State University
• NASA Aerospace Scholar

As NSF GK-12 Project Coordinator, Dr. Lalk directed a major grant initiative connecting graduate students with K-12 classrooms. She also serves as an external evaluator for learning environments and leads professional development at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, extending her community-engaged approach to field education in Western Washington and Appalachia.