Marilyn Levin Nemzer, M.A.
Credentialed School Counselor
Trustee, Marin County Board of Education

Marilyn is the Founder and Executive Director of two nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, The California Study (dba School Success Counseling, dba Global Book Exchange, dba Energy Education Group, dba The Study) and the Geothermal Education Office.

The Global Book Exchange is an all-volunteer project which collects used texts and library books (otherwise destined for landfills) and — with help from local youth, teachers and service clubs — finds second homes for them locally and worldwide; the Energy Education Group publishes educational information about renewable energy; The Study is an in-home private tutoring service; the Geothermal Education Office produces and disseminates educational materials about geothermal energy with a focus on outreach efforts.

Marilyn has been directing creative educational programs for more than 20 years. She has conceived and managed projects, administered grants, written and edited public information materials, organized public information workshops, developed websites and produced videos. She has collaborated in educational projects with the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Energy Education Development project, and with numerous other local, regional and national agencies and education organizations. She has testified at public hearings before committees of the California Department of Education and the California Energy Commission and is a tireless advocate of practices beneficial to education and the environment.

Prior to her involvement in the world of nonprofits, Marilyn, a San Francisco (Lowell High School) native, worked in San Francisco Bay Area public and private schools. While studying for her Master’s Degree, she was a teaching assistant in the French Department at S.F. State University. She then taught French and English at St. John’s Ursuline High School in San Francisco for four years, followed by seven years as a middle school counselor with the San Mateo City School District. She then moved to Marin, where she became active in education-related projects and founded the nonprofit organizations which she now directs.

In November 2001 Marilyn was elected to the Marin County Board of Education. Click here to see Marilyn’s personal note to her constituents.

Marilyn lives in Tiburon (Marin County), California, with her husband, attorney Ken Nemzer. The Nemzers have three children, Louis “Lex”, Jordan “Joe” and Nicole “Nikki”. All three attended and graduated from Marin County public schools.

Professional Affiliations

Member, Marin County Board of Education, now serving third term
Board Member, California Environmental Education Foundation
California School Boards Association
Association of California School Administrators
American School Counselor Association
Tiburon-Belvedere Rotary Club (of Rotary International)
National Science Teachers Association
North American Environmental Educators Association
Geothermal Resources Council: Board of Directors, since 1993
International Geothermal Association

Publications

Web Pages
Geothermal Education Office: www.geothermal.marin.org
Global Book Exchange: www.bookexchangemarin.org
Educators for the Environment: www.energyforkeeps.org
School Success Counseling: www.schoolsuccesscounseling.com
The California Study: www.thecaliforniastudy.org/

Selected Multi-Media
Introduction to Geothermal Energy. Slide Set: of text, graphics and photos. 1999. See on GEO website.
Geothermal Energy: A Renewable Option. Video, gr. 6 – adult. Director and co-author of script.1998
A Down to Earth Adventure. Video, gr. 3 – 5. Producer, co-author. 1993.

Selected Printed Materials
Energy for Keeps: Electricity from Renewable Energy, “for everyone who uses electricity.” Editor and Project manager. Published 2003.Geothermal Energy. Article for Microsoft Encarta CD-ROM Encyclopedia 2000. Co-author.Geothermal Energy. Elementary and middle school curriculum, co-author. 1995.A Global View of Geothermal Energy. Geothermal statistical map. Designer/co-author.1993 & updates.Activity supplement for Project WET, in collaboration with The Watercourse (Univ. of Montana) and the Idaho Water Resources and Research Institute (Univ. of Idaho). Editor. In progress.other publications in progress

Education

BA Comparative Literature,
University of California, Berkeley (includes 1 year,
University of Bordeaux, France)
MA French,
San Francisco State College
Jr. College & Secondary Teaching, life credentials,
San Francisco State College
Pupil Personnel (counseling), life credential,
University of San Francisco
Elementary Teaching, life credential,
University of San Francisco
Supervision Instructional Programs & Principalship,
life credential, University of S.F.

Recognition & Awards

Education and Community Service Related
Jefferson Award for Public Service, 2009
Point of Light Celebration honoree, recognition as one of 25 top volunteers in S.F. Bay Area, 2005
Tiburon-Belvedere Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, recognition for community service, 1996
Marin County Commission on the Status of Women, commendation, 1996
Marin County Office of Education, Marin County School Boards Ass’n., Golden Bell Award, 1994
Marin County Volunteer of the Year, 1988

Environment Related (solid waste recycling)
Award of Excellence from the Marin Economic Commission for The Book Exchange, for “contributions to a vibrant and sustainable economy.” 2004
Marin Community Foundation, Earth Day Every Day award, for the Global Book Exchange, 1996
National Environmental Awards Council (Renew America), for the Global Book Exchange, 1990
Environmental Protection Agency, Region XIX,commendation, for the Global Book Exchange, 1990

Renewable Energy Related
Geothermal Energy Association, Special Recognition for outstanding achievement in the geothermal industry, 2011
National Green Power Leadership Award, 2006. Sponsored by U.S. EPA, U.S. Dep’t. of Energy, and Center for Resource Solutions
Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Innovation Award forEnergy for Keeps, 2004
Geothermal Energy Association, Most Informative Award, Exhibit Booth, Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 2000
Nat’l. Science Resources Center (of Smithsonian Inst. and Nat’l. Academy of Science) Recommendation of geothermal curriculum co-authored by Ms. Nemzer. 1996
Geothermal Resources Council Special Achievement Award., for public education efforts, 1993