CFWE Emmett F. Thompson Dean Janaki R.R. Alavalapati and Auburn University and Alabama Extension Specialist Nancy Loewenstein hold the 2023 CFWE Outstanding Alumni Award.
Self-proclaimed “plant nerd,” Auburn and Alabama Extension Specialist Nancy Loewenstein has always loved being outdoors and working with plants.
That passion recently paid off, as she was named the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment’s 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient.
Loewenstein earned her bachelor’s degree in forest management at Auburn in 1982. And although her educational and professional career took her to different locales where she earned several more degrees, she eventually landed back on campus in 2002. Luckily for colleagues, students, industry professionals and community members, she never left.
This recent award puts a nice cap on a fruitful career that will soon close when Loewenstein retires from the university in August.
Outstanding in many ways
President of the Alabama Invasive Plant Council (ALIPC ) Michelle Isenberg nominated Loewenstein for this recognition, noting how she is engaged both professionally and personally in her industry and community.
“Nancy volunteers her time with invasive species projects in the Auburn and Opelika area, as well as serving as a church elder and participating in church choirs,” said Isenberg, who pointed to Loewenstein’s leadership and career achievements as a testimony to her strength as an alumni award candidate.
A charter member and executive director of the ALIPC, Loewenstein has been recognized for excellence in extension, teaching and outreach, including being named the Forest Conservationist of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and a National Project Learning Tree (PLT) Outstanding Educator Honoree. Loewenstein also received the National PLT’s Leadership in Education Award.
Lastly, Loewenstein has produced numerous Extension and academic publications. She was also a co-author of the popular Forest Service book Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests.
Read more about Nancy Loewenstein.(Written by Amy Burtch)
