Marybeth Lima
Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University
Marybeth Lima is a Professor in Biological & Agricultural Engineering at Louisiana State University, a registered professional engineer, and a certified playground safety inspector. Lima has been working with the Baton Rouge community for nine years to ensure that all kids have access to safe, fun, accessible playgrounds that the kids help to design. She believes that play is a right and not a privilege, and that children are the best playground designers; these beliefs have guided her service-learning teaching and research work with elementary school and college students and the larger community. She is the recipient of the 2007 Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service-Learning, the 2005 Ernest A. Lynton Award for Faculty Professional Service & Academic Outreach, and the 2004 Gulf South Summit Award for Outstanding Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education. Lima writes and speaks widely on service-learning issues, and is the co-author of the textbook Service-Learning: Engineering in Your Community. She and her partner Lynn Hathaway enjoy swimming and playing with their animals.
