Katherine Manning | Green Roof Professional (GRP)

Katherine Manning, GRP

Dr. Katherine (Katie) McNamara Manning is a Postdoctoral Scholar of Research Development at the Kent State University Environmental Science and Design Research Institute. She holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University. Her research has focused on insect biodiversity ecology in managed systems, including examining beneficial insects on green roofs in Cleveland, Ohio, with interests in the effect of frame-of-reference on scientific findings. She is experienced in research areas including beneficial insects, native bees, insect biodiversity, living architecture, community and urban ecology. Contact her via email or on LinkedIn

Sampling insects with yellow sticky cards on Cleveland Metropark's Watershed Stewardship Center. Photo: Katherine Manning

What are you studying in school or did you study? What was your area of research? Was the program helpful to your learning and would you recommend it to other students? 

In my graduate program I performed research in insect ecology, focusing on biodiversity in managed systems, and earning a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Kent State University in 2023. The program, within the Department of Biological Sciences, was very helpful to my education and career trajectory. The department prioritizes funding for graduate students going through the program by providing teaching opportunities, and so I would recommend it to other students. Prior to my doctoral studies, I received my Bachelor’s from Michigan State University, studying Environmental Biology and Zoology, and Sustainability. 

How did you find out about green roofs and the GRP program?

My first experience with a green roof was in Door County, Wisconsin when I was a teenager - seeing a vegetated roof with goats on it, which was super intriguing. I was reintroduced to green roofs with my doctoral research, examining insects on green roofs in the Cleveland Ohio area. Due to this research project, Dr. Reid Coffman was a member of my dissertation committee and I took his course on living architecture. Reid introduced me to the GRP program, and I saw some of my peers becoming fellows as well.

Why did you become a Green Roof Professional (GRP)?
Being an ecologist who studies green roofs, I wanted to be able to have strong ties to the green roof community and saw becoming a GRP as the perfect way to do so. I also wanted to increase my expertise and make my green roof knowledge more well-rounded. I hope to apply my knowledge of insects to help build green roofs in the future that may provide habitat for beneficial insects.

Our novel ground-dwelling insect trap, the jar ramp trap, on Cleveland Metropark's Edgewater Beach green roof. Photo: Katherine Manning

How has it enhanced your opportunities?
Taking the GRP courses allowed me to learn more about green roofs and other living architecture, including the history of green roofs, building practices and materials, and advances in the field. I recognize there is always more to learn, but I do feel more confident talking about green roofs since I’ve become a GRP. And I hope being a GRP opens career or collaboration opportunities for me.

What are your plans for the future?
I recently became a research development postdoctoral scholar at the Kent State University Environmental Science and Design Research Institute. I am enjoying exploring this new opportunity currently, but in the future I would like to be involved in more green roof projects. I also enjoy public education and outreach, and of course insects, so hope to incorporate those interests into my future career.

Monarch butterfly, one of many beneficial insects, on a coneflower. Photo: Katherine Manning

What trends about green infrastructure make you excited for the future?
There are lots of exciting trends in green infrastructure, but for me I’m most interested in how we can increase biodiversity within urban areas. Projects that focus on using a variety of native plants, perhaps mimicking local natural elements, that are attractive to beneficial insects and provide habitat for insects and animals are of greatest interest to me. I also really like projects that are accessible to humans, providing green oases in urban areas. 

What do you see as the role of green infrastructure in resilience and the COVID-19 recovery?
We know that getting outside or even just having green space that can be viewed is beneficial to human health and mental well-being. We saw an uptick in outdoor recreation space usage during COVID-19 lockdowns. I think that having more green infrastructure in urban areas where green space is generally lacking is essential to community resilience and recovery in the on-going COVID-19 era and beyond. 

Left: Collecting insect traps on the Bike Box (former Award of Excellence winner), a prairie green roof in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Right: Bee bowls out for pollinator sampling on the green roof at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Photos: Katherine Manning

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a non-profit 501(c)(6) professional industry association working to grow the green roof and wall industry throughout North America since 1999. Our mission is to develop and protect the market by increasing the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development, and celebrations of excellence. 

We publish The Living Architecture Monitor quarterly online magazine where industry leaders share their insights and expertise. These articles increase awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, walls and other forms of living architecture.

We also offer free access to The Living Architecture Academy, an online professional development platform which is dedicated to bringing you the best, most up to date professional training information on design, installation and maintenance practices across a wide range of green infrastructure topics. The LAA offers short lectures and multi-day courses such as: Green Roof Professional Training, Introduction to Green Walls, Biodiverse Green Roof Maintenance, and more.  

We also publish the Green Pages: Industry Green Roof and Wall Directory which is designed to support you with your living architecture projects by providing a list of trusted manufacturers, suppliers of accessories, green walls, nurseries, and certified Green Roof Professionals (GRPs). From small-scale residential projects to large commercial installations, this directory has everything you need to find support to create a sustainable and beautiful living space.

From the Living Architecture Monitor