Meet Our Staff:
Kim A. Lutz
Executive Director
Kim Lutz serves as the executive director of America’s Watershed Initiative. Since joining AWI in 2020, Kim has steered the creation of the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership and the 2020 Watershed Report Card, with a strong focus on building out robust partnerships across the Watershed and building organizational capacity. Prior to her time with AWI, Kim initiated and successfully led two multi-state watershed programs along the Savannah and Connecticut Rivers with The Nature Conservancy. Under her leadership, these programs improved river flows, restored large-scale floodplain forests, protected more than 6,000 acres, and achieved a significant refuge expansion. She was a founding member and former chair of the Friends of the Silvio O. Conte Refuge, where she helped successfully build congressional relationships that resulted in $23 million in federal funding for the Connecticut River Watershed. Kim obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University where she majored in Biology and Psychology, and her Master of Science in Biology at the University of Cincinnati. Kim and her husband John, also a non-profit leader, have two adult children, both working in Washington, D.C. in public administration consulting and energy policy. She enjoys hiking with her loveable rescue dog, exploring rivers, forests and coasts everywhere.
Letter from the Executive Director
Rivers have shaped me like they shape the landscape. Growing up mostly in cities, summers spent fishing with my grandfather on a tributary to the Illinois River or motoring out on my uncle’s boat along the Upper Mississippi were precious times. These experiences had a profound impact on me, so when it came time to pick an undergraduate major, biology was an obvious choice. Since then, I have had the good fortune to have my career shaped by rivers—the Savannah River, the Connecticut River, and now back to where this love of rivers started, America’s Great River: the Mississippi.
When America’s Watershed Initiative (AWI) organized in 2012, our founders envisioned an organization that would bring together leaders from many sectors across the Watershed’s basins. They believed that only together could we chart a sustainable path through the 21st century and beyond for the Watershed and all who rely on it.
The collaborative approach began with the Mississippi River Watershed Report Card in 2015. We took great care to listen to, and measure, all aspects of the river’s health that we heard were important to you. The results of the 2015 and 2020 Mississippi River Watershed Report Cards allow us to see how those important features are trending. These challenges are national issues, impacting all of us. Building on what we learned from the Report Card, we launched the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership. This Partnership will act as one voice to generate broad support and dedicated funding to drive integrated on-the-ground action to improve the health of the Watershed for the human and natural communities that depend on it.
As I travel through the Watershed, I am often reminded of all this great River provides— abundant wildlife, unmatched beauty, our home, our livelihoods. And all of us have a stake in what the Watershed provides for our future. With your support, we will help define a common vision, place sound science at the forefront in decision- making, and amplify the voices of our rivers’ greatest champions. There is no time to waste. Make America’s Watershed Initiative YOUR Initiative.
Sararose LaGreca
Philanthropy Associate
Sararose joined AWI in July 2024 as the philanthropy associate. With a background in development and a passion for the environment, Sararose is excited to help grow AWI’s presence within the Watershed and amongst its partners. Prior to joining AWI, Sararose served as the director of alumnae/i relations at Dominican University, focusing on building general engagement, volunteer management, and strategic communications. During her tenure, Dominican launched a robust regional engagement program, set new reunion scholarship fundraising records, and created degree program-specific engagement opportunities. Sararose is a double alumna of Dominican University, having earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and International Relations and Diplomacy, as well as a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Her love of nature and connecting with new people brought her to her role within AWI. In her free time, Sararose enjoys hiking (not very far), cooking (not very well), and reading books (not very long).
Sierra Schuchard
Project Coordinator
Sierra joined AWI in the fall of 2023 and has been beyond excited to work on projects that she finds meaningful as she serves in the role of project coordinator. Sierra chose to study Geological Engineering at Missouri S&T after an impactful environmental studies class in high school. With the goal of making a positive impact on the natural world she focused on groundwater hydrology and contaminant clean-up. Throughout her college career, Sierra poured her heart into Engineers Without Borders and led a team to Ecuador where they built a rainwater catchment system at a community school that did not previously have access to clean drinking water. After graduating, she worked as an Americorps VISTA with Missouri Green Schools, where she assisted in creating the structure needed for them to start working with schools across the state. In 2021, Sierra began working at Golder Associates (now WSP) as an environmental engineer, where she worked on multiple TCE remediation projects and managed long-term monitoring of two hazardous waste landfills along the Mississippi river. Sierra’s passion to protect the nature around her in St. Louis, MO led her to America’s Watershed Initiative. In her free time, Sierra enjoys tending to her garden at home and going on hikes and float trips in the Ozarks.