Green and sustainability sciences at Marian University are interlinked through undergraduate research, the green organic chemistry laboratory curriculum, and green chemistry outreach efforts. Green chemistry provides an outstanding entry point for students to become involved in chemical research. Additionally, opportunities abound for curricular innovations and for the incorporation of sustainable chemistry practices into the teaching laboratory. This presentation will introduce a novel aqueous Heck coupling developed by a Marian University undergraduate for our sophomore organic laboratory curriculum. Sodium acrylate can be coupled to iodovanillin with a variety of Pd(II) reagents. Each aspect of the transformation and workup can be performed safely on the open bench-top. The iodovanillin is synthesized via a green electrophilic iodination of vanillin.