Tom Knapp
Tom is a native of Houston, Texas, and holds a BS in Environmental Science from Stephen F. Austin State University, as well as an MS in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Loyola University Chicago. His professional and academic endeavors are centered on urban agriculture, ecology, and environmental science. Tom began his career as a Divemaster with the Boy Scouts of America, guiding divers in the reefs of the Florida Keys. While in graduate school, he contributed to crayfish research and removal efforts at Loyola's Keller Invasive Species Lab and played a key role in leading mushroom cultivation in LUC’s Urban Agriculture program. Additionally, he served as Laboratory Manager for the fungi forward start up Mycocycle.
In 2024, his academic contributions were further demonstrated through his appointment as Adjunct Faculty at Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability. Since 2021, Tom has served as the Education Manager for Plant Chicago, a nonprofit organization located in Back of the Yards, where he coordinates and leads inquiry-based learning workshops as well as summer youth programs focused on self-discovery, urban food systems, and urban ecology.
Tom is a native of Houston, Texas, and holds a BS in Environmental Science from Stephen F. Austin State University, as well as an MS in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Loyola University Chicago. His professional and academic endeavors are centered on urban agriculture, ecology, and environmental science. Tom began his career as a Divemaster with the Boy Scouts of America, guiding divers in the reefs of the Florida Keys. While in graduate school, he contributed to crayfish research and removal efforts at Loyola's Keller Invasive Species Lab and played a key role in leading mushroom cultivation in LUC’s Urban Agriculture program. Additionally, he served as Laboratory Manager for the fungi forward start up Mycocycle.
In 2024, his academic contributions were further demonstrated through his appointment as Adjunct Faculty at Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability. Since 2021, Tom has served as the Education Manager for Plant Chicago, a nonprofit organization located in Back of the Yards, where he coordinates and leads inquiry-based learning workshops as well as summer youth programs focused on self-discovery, urban food systems, and urban ecology.