Nancy C. Tuchman, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Professor of Biology
Nancy Tuchman spent the first 14 years of her career as a Professor of Aquatic Ecology in the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago. In 2002-2003 she served as a Program Officer in the Ecosystem Studies Program at the National Science Foundation, then returned to Loyola and served as the Associate Provost for Research for 5 years (2004 – 2008). In 2005 she founded the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy (CUERP) at Loyola with several other faculty colleagues, and has since served as the Center’s Director, and now as the University's Vice Provost.
Her vision for CUERP is to raise public awareness of the unsustainable consumption of our Earth’s natural resources with the goal of transforming behavior, developing policy, and inspiring and preparing next generation environmental leaders. To that end, CUERP engages students, faculty, staff and administrators in activities designed to lower our campus consumption of energy and natural resources, and reduce our waste production. Under Tuchman’s direction, CUERP has developed several flagship programs including biodiesel which converts waste vegetable oil into fuel and uses it in our intercampus shuttle buses; using waste glycerin to produce soap which is being sold in our campus stores; and growing food organically on our urban campus rooftop gardens.
Tuchman’s research focuses on human impacts on aquatic ecosystem structure and function. Her work has spanned from investigating the effects of greenhouse gases on stream ecosystem food webs, to the impacts of invasive plant and animal species on Great Lakes coastal ecosystems, to the effects of emerging contaminants such as plasticizers (Bisphenol-A), and pharmaceuticals (e.g. antibiotics and endocrine disruptors) on streams and lakes. Working with students in research is one of the most rewarding aspects of Tuchman’s career. Throughout her 20-year career at Loyola, she has mentored or co-mentored 72 undergraduate students in individual research projects, and 33 graduate students.
