Kimberly Shay (née Lesnock) joined Laukahi: The Hawai‘i Plant Conservation Network in January 2022. Prior to Laukahi, Kimberly worked at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in the publishing department, BRIT Press, as the Assistant Editor and Press Fulfillment Coordinator, managing the online publications and press fulfillment operations. She also worked as a Purchasing Assistant on a purchasing team for a retail grocery store chain, managing the produce commodity for the North Texas region stores. Kimberly is excited to bring her unique background to this role and to advance Laukahi’s Targets with the Network.
Kimberly attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She completed a master’s degree in Botany (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology) and studied coastal plants’ pollinators and breeding systems. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her undergraduate degrees are in Biology and Bioinformatics from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. She is delighted to return to Hawai‘i and work with the conservation community. Outside of work, Kimberly loves listening to and playing music, enjoying food with friends, and exploring Hawai‘i.
