Finding her place at Lake Erie

Alex Kushnir’s first love has always been water. It’s what drew her to become a rower growing up in Ravenna, Italy, near the Adriatic Sea coast. A standout for the Italian national team, Kushnir came to Ohio State on an athletics scholarship. However, she discovered a passion outside rowing as well, studying water science. It wasn’t long before she found the ideal summer home: Ohio State’s Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie. There, she’s been mentored by world-renowned researchers cleaning up the lake for future generations. This is her story.