MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Ohio State University at Marion Dean and Director Jennifer Schlueter has appointed Dr. Anna Willow as the inaugural Faculty Director of Environmental Learning Labs, a role designed to expand the campus’s role as a regional hub for ecological research.
Willow, a professor of anthropology with a background in natural resources and environment, will oversee a major milestone in 2027: the 50th anniversary of the Larry R. Yoder Prairie Learning Laboratory. The 11-acre “living laboratory” has served as a cornerstone for North Central Ohio conservation since 1977.
“Ultimately, I foresee thinking about the entire campus as an environmental learning lab,” Willow said. Her vision includes expanding the current labs—which include the prairie, the Veteran’s Garden, and a campus apiary—to eventually feature orchards and additional pollinator spaces.
The appointment coincides with the launch of “Rooted in Stewardship, Sustaining the Future,” a year-long initiative for 2027. Planned events include a gallery exhibit detailing the prairie’s history and an immersive installation by French-American artist Cadine Navarro titled “It Sounds Like Love,” which uses sound recordings of prairie seeds.
Willow joined the Ohio State Marion faculty in 2009. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environment. Her career has focused on human-environment relationships and climate resilience.
“I’ve always wanted to do work that makes a tangible difference in the world by improving individuals’ connections to the natural world,” Willow said.
The 2027 celebrations are expected to culminate in August of that year with a keynote address by the prairie’s founder, Larry R. Yoder.