Karen Vanek
Design Services Project Manager Intern
[email protected]

Karen is a Design Services Project Manager Intern at The Resiliency Institute. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Loyola University Chicago and is advancing her education by completing a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies with a specialty in Ecological Design. She holds a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) issued by Midwest Permaculture, and is certified in Regenerative Ecological Design from The ECOSA Institute in Prescott, Arizona.

Karen advocates for the integration of food forestry, polycultures and native plantings into ecologically-sound landscape designs from rural to urban settings using the systems thinking process. Her specializations fall under Midwest plant identification, sustainable organic farming, food forest design and establishment, and permaculture-inspired projects at residences around the Chicago area.

Karen never stops exploring and experimenting for the sake of building knowledge that promotes integrated, resilient living. She is passionate about educating, networking, consulting and collaborating on projects related to permaculture, ecological design, and any other means with which to invigorate people to harmonize their realized niche with the natural world.