Lisa DePiano

Lisa DePiano is a prominent faculty member at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she serves as a Senior Lecturer in sustainable agriculture. Her academic focus includes permaculture, carbon farming, and innovative agricultural practices such as silvopasture and establishing food forests on public land. DePiano has extensive teaching experience, having instructed hundreds of students in various courses related to permaculture both in the U.S. and internationally, including programs like the Permaculture Women’s Teacher Training.13

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she runs the Mobile Design Lab, which specializes in participatory permaculture design and installation. DePiano is also actively involved in community projects, including notable installations like the greywater system at Occupy Wall Street and the Lee Street Forest Garden in Cambridge, Massachusetts.12

Her educational background includes a Master’s degree in Regional Planning from UMass Amherst and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Public Relations from West Virginia University. She has been part of the UMass faculty since at least 2018, contributing significantly to courses such as Permaculture Design and Practice, Social Permaculture, and Forest Gardens.145

DePiano's work is grounded in the intersections of agriculture, economic development, ecological design, and social justice, reflecting her commitment to sustainability and community empowerment.2