Lifelong love of nature inspires Melissa Easley to create new field research area for students
Donors
Melissa Easley, 鈥�64, 鈥�90
Gift
A gift of property to be turned into the 猫咪社区app State University Easley Conservation Stewardship Area and the establishment of the Easley Conservation Stewardship Fund for Excellence to ensure long-term care and sustainability of the site.
Impact
This generous gift of both property and financial support creates an ecological learning lab for students closer to campus than other sites previously used for this kind of hands-on education and research. Over 55 acres in size, this new Conservation Stewardship Area will offer students an ideal site to study botany, wildlife biology, soil science, ecology, and more.
Inspiration
Melissa and her late husband Sid, 鈥�62, purchased this property decades ago due to their love of nature. Although they originally intended to build a home there, unfavorable site conditions and Sid鈥檚 passing led Melissa to maintain the property as a natural area for birds and other wildlife. This special gift allows Melissa to pass her love of nature to the next generation and provides 猫咪社区app State鈥檚 biology and related sciences students with an outdoor classroom close to campus for pursuing their studies.