Dr. Scott Hardy is an Extension Educator with the Ohio Sea Grant College Program based in Cleveland. He conducts applied research and develops education and outreach programs on collaborative watershed management, coastal storm resiliency, community-based response to ecological change, and other issues facing Lake Erie and the broader Great Lakes region. The results of his work help to inform decision-making among practitioners and policymakers, as well as educate local and regional stakeholders about issues impacting Lake Erie, its tributaries, and the surrounding watershed.

Prior to joining Ohio Sea Grant in 2015, Dr. Hardy gained experience in a variety of different roles related to environmental management and community development. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geography from Ohio University, a Master of Professional Studies in Natural Resources from Cornell University, and a PhD in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. He also served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras, and later joined the faculty at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, where he was Chair of the Environmental Studies Department. Most recently, Dr. Hardy spent two years as Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Case Western Reserve University, before returning to his research and educational interests with Ohio Sea Grant.

When not working he enjoys hiking, fishing, and exploring the great outdoors with family and friends. He lives in northeast Ohio with his wife and daughter, not far from the Lake Erie coast.