Since going on 2003 trek in the Wrangell-St. Elias, Heather Lukacs has infused the passion of the Wild Gift in her research, guiding, and mentoring. The year following her trek - Heather led a group of MIT engineering and business graduate students to the Dominican Republic, partnering with local non-government organizations to study small scale appropriate drinking water treatment technology. She also applied for, was accepted into, and has been working toward a PhD in Stanford University's Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. Heather's research projects have included studying the sustainability of rural water supply systems in Bolivia, and most recently, her dissertation focuses on grassroots community groups working to restore and protect rivers and streams in Appalachia. Heather continues to enjoy teaching and since 2003 has been a teaching assistant (TA) for classes as diverse as Fluid Dynamics, Water and Sanitation Planning in Developing Countries, and an interdisciplinary research design class for first year environment and resources PhD students. For the latter class, in 2007, Heather received the Centennial Teaching Assistant Award that recognizes TAs at Stanford with records of outstanding teaching.

Heather also sits on the Eco-Stewards steering committee of Presbyterians for Earth Care and is currently planning an 8-day Summer 2010 event in West Virginia which seeks to train and inspire young adults in the principles and practice of ecological stewardship. Heather's love for rivers and sharing this love with others has spurred her to continue to paddle and guide whitewater rivers - with friends, commercial clients, and to volunteer on the river with non-profits such as the Wild Gift. She has had the opportunity to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon with Wild Gift these past three years, guide commercially on occasion in California and West Virginia including educational trips with state legislators, and row the Grand Canyon.

Heather has recently moved home to her wild and wonderful West Virginia home where she feels a deep love and call to live the Wild Gift mission of sustainable human community and stewardship of wild nature. The Wild Gift community and time on wild rivers give her strength, encourage her to live in the direction of her dreams, and to move confidently toward our wild, dynamic, beautiful, shared future.