Lori Blanc

Lori Blanc is a Research Scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences. She is also the Director of the Da Vinci Living Learning Community, a First Year Experience program designed to help biological and life science freshmen successfully transition through their first year at Virginia Tech. Lori's research focuses on avian community ecology, conservation biology and endangered species management. She has over 15 years of teaching experience in topics ranging from environmental sustainability, conservation biology, and molecular genetic techniques to computer literacy, programming, and computer architecture. Since 2008, Lori has taught field-based study abroad programs in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Antarctica. Her teaching emphasizes hands-on, interdisciplinary learning, undergraduate engagement with peer-reviewed scientific literature, writing-intensive project work, service learning, self-reflection and the use of co-curricular activities to improve curricular engagement. Lori received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Virginia Tech, and a M.S. and B.S. in Computer Science from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.