Heather Hayashi is the Communications Manager for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture. She has an M.S. in Library Science from Clarion University, completed a summer residency in Berlin, Germany through New York University’s M.A. Studio Art program with an emphasis in Painting and Photography, and a B.S. in Design with an emphasis in Visual Communications and Interior Architecture from UC Davis.

She began her career in private industry, working in design and marketing roles before moving to the public sector, where, for over a decade, she worked in academia in research and information services and outreach; promoting education, sustainability, DEI+belonging and information literacy in libraries at both the California Community Colleges as an adjunct faculty librarian, and within the University of California (UC) systems. Hayashi has worked for state and local government agencies in public affairs and as an information officer, from working with the media (and creating multimedia products), developing brand guidelines and implementing new graphic standards, to creating marketing campaign materials and omnichannel products across communication outlets.

Heather enjoys serving in higher education promoting innovation and research, and is passionate about environmental and social justice, and conservation. Offline, you'll find her exploring the great outdoors, learning about food/medicinal uses and textile applications of indigenous plants and experimenting with climate-change adapting wildlife-friendly gardening, pursuing conservation photography, videography, attending art and cultural events, being a fur-parent, and finding various ways to connect and bring communities together.