Grace serves as Director of the Sustainability Engagement Institute at Western Washington University (WWU), which develops educational opportunities and systems-change for a more sustainable, just future that engages in initiatives that create economic vitality, promote well-being, protect the environment, and uphold social justice. As Director, she brings together Western's educational, co-curricular, and operational functions. Using different social science approaches - focus groups, key informant interviews, sample surveys and questionnaires – Grace has coordinated research which has implications for the management of natural resources, traditional ecological knowledge and the management of public lands.