Preethi Radhakrishnan

Director of Environmental Science, LaGuardia Community College

Professor Preethi Radhakrishnan is Co-Program Director of Environmental Science at LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC). Under her leadership, the program has grown to include two new academic tracks: Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Animal Science. She also led the design, build, and ongoing development of La Finca Florecita, LAGCC’s Urban Farm. Supported by the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, the farm serves as a living laboratory for experiential learning in regenerative agriculture, sustainability, and food justice in the heart of Queens. Preethi holds a bachelors in zoology and plant science, a masters in biotechnology from the University of Madras, Chennai, India and a PhD in animal behavior and integrated pest management from Macquarie University, Australia. Her research examines how urban ecosystems adapt to environmental stressors and how communities can harness nature-based solutions for resilience. In New York City, she studies native pollinators in community gardens and explores the role of oysters in wastewater remediation and ecosystem recovery in Newtown Creek, a designated Superfund site, through oyster metagenomics. These projects reflect her broad interest in climate adaptation, ecological restoration, and the role of biodiversity in building resilient cities.