Lisa Murphy

Lisa Murphy is an Adjunct Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources at Columbia College and Ranch Education at Cuesta College. She is also an instructor for the California Naturalist and the Climate Stewardship certification courses through UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCNR). In 2018, Lisa co-founded the Gold County Bat Project where baseline data is used to learn about bats and provide educational materials for researchers and the public. Prior to her current roles, Lisa was a Park Ranger Interpreter in Yosemite National Park for 18 years. 

Lisa earned her Bachelor of Arts from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Liberal Arts and a Master of Science in Natural Resource Communication from Stephen F. Austin State University. Lisa then received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials from Fresno Pacific University. She has also completed several additional trainings including, Technical Assistance Training Program with CSU State Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainability, California Naturalist Certification and the UC Berkley Extension Climate Steward program. 

Lisa joined the Greenspace board in 2024 and is serving as the Secretary. Lisa is drawn to Greenspace’s work in land acquisition for conservation and believes land trusts play an integral part in preserving intact ecosystems. Lisa is also passionate about the focus on preservation and restoration of the coastal native Monterey pine forest. Lisa has also played an instrumental role in bringing Greenspace’s Strawberry Canyon preserve into the Snapshot USA project- Wildlife observation/mammal tracking project.

Lisa lives in Cambria with her wife, Erin, and their new puppy, Tenaya. Lisa’s wife is a biology professor at Cuesta College, and shares Lisa’s deep appreciation for this unique and incredible place on the Pacific edge of the continent where land meets ocean. In her free time, she enjoys boogie boarding, kayaking, biking, hiking, and etching/print making. Lisa has a fondness for sea otters and pelicans.