People
Graduate Students - Forest Resources and Conservation
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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Hailey Ambrose | MS | Shirley Baker | I am a MS student working to obtain a degree in Ecological Restoration through the School of Forest Resource’s and Conservation. I am employed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) based out of Orlando as an Environmental Specialist III (ESIII). Working in the Compliance and Assurance Program of the Central District office completing technical reviews of Submerged Lands and Environmental Resource complaints as well as compliance review of existing permits or exemptions. With a focus on shoreline stabilization, wetland delineations/determinations, mangroves, and surface water activities. At times I execute higher level enforcement as needed and work with homeowners and facility owners to obtain compliance with the State of Florida Regulations, Rules, & Statues. |
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Nicolas Anger | Ph.D. | Jason Smith | I am a PhD student in Forest Resources and Conservation under the supervision of Dr. Jason Smith. My research focuses on the dieback of endemic conifers from New Caledonia, and more precisely, diagnosing potential pathogen species involved in the dieback of Araucaria humboldtensis. I am from France where I received my Master degree in Integrative Plant Biology and I have been working on endemic plants for 3 years in New Caledonia. |
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May Armstrong | MS | Rae Crandall | I have spent the last four years working in ecology, prescribed fire, and wildfire. Beginning graduate school at UF, I look forward to learning more in depth about the complexities of ecosystems, restoration, and fire regimes in order to become a successful land steward. I am driven by my passion to restore ecosystems to their most natural state. I have seen so much ecological progress through my work with prescribed fire and hope to continue to make a sustainable difference recreating the ecosystems that once maintained themselves in a harmonious balance. |
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Mabel Baez Schon | Ph.D. | Karen Kainer | I’m a Ph.D. student in Karen Kainer’s community forest management lab. I’m a McKnight Fellow and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree at Colgate University in 2015 where I double majored in Environmental Studies and Biology. As an undergraduate student at Colgate, and after graduation as a staff member, I worked in Professor Catherine Cardelús’s Ecosystem Ecology lab in research projects across Upstate New York, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia. My research has led me to focus on Sacred Natural Sites as forms of biocultural conservation across Latin America and Africa informed by my work in community-based resource management in Acre Brazil. As part of UF’s Tropical Conservation and Development Program, I also work to further biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and human well-being by tailoring my research interests to local needs. |
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Mandy Sunshine Baily | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Martha Monroe |
I am a mother of three and distance student in Natural Resource Management and Administration, with a certificate in Wetlands and Water Resource Management. My focus is on inclusive community engagement and environmental communication around issues related to water quality. These elements merge frequently in my current work as a program assistant with UF/IFAS Extension and as a team member of Community Voices Informed Choices (CIVIC) – an extension collaborative between UF and FAMU. |
| Fredy Ballen | Ph.D. | Damian Adams | ||
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Hope Barlow | MS | Taylor Stein | I am a MS student in Forest Resources and Conservation coming from the combined degree program. I plan to use my knowledge from UF to improve outdoor recreation opportunities and planning in Florida. My ultimate goal is to inspire others through outdoor recreation in order to increase the number of people willing to fight for the preservation of our beautiful world. |
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Jennifer Bobka | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am a working professional in the private sector of environmental consulting and ecosystem restoration in coastal Southwest Florida. I am seeking to expand/update my knowledge on current environmental issues affecting our local ecosystems, and learn methodologies/approaches to tackle those issues. I obtained my undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies (B.A.) from Montana State University in 2009. I have been living in SW Florida since 2012. My focus is on invasive species & plant physiology, and how they relate to threatened/endangered species and habitat management. |
| Jennifer Bock | Ph.D. | Damian Adams |
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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Ludie Bond | Ph.D. | Rae Crandall |
After completing my undergraduate degree in Public Relations from the UF School of Journalism and Communications (’85), I decided to pursue a career in Public Relations in Forestry. I completed a Master of Forest Resources and Conservation from the UF School of Forest Resouces and Conservation (’04) with an emphasis on Wildland Urban Interface Issues. During that time, I co-authored ‘Wildfire Risk Assessment Guide for Homeowners in the Southern United States’. I have been with the Florida Forest Service as a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist/Public Information Officer (PIO) for 22 years.
As a PIO, I am afforded the opportunity to provide local, state and national news media as well as the public with information about wildfire incidents, wildfire causes, wildfire prevention, prescribed burning and fuel mitigation programs. My dissertation research emphasis is on evaluating prescribed fire messaging in the southeastern United States. |
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Brandon Bourassa | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Basil Iannone |
I am a distance graduate student living in Albuquerque, New Mexico and studying under the advisement of Dr. Basil Iannone of the Residential Landscape Ecology Lab. I hope to utilize my position as Outreach Coordinator for the New Mexico Herpetological Society to compliment a masters project on human/rattlesnake conflict. I graduated from the University of New Mexico with a BS in Geography, concentrating on GIS. I work as a keeper in the Herpetology Department at the Albuquerque BioPark, specializing in the husbandry of crocodilians and venomous reptiles. My wife and I also work as wildlife consultants for the film industry, most notably on the show Better Call Saul. I have always loved Florida, and I could not be more excited to be pursuing a degree at UF, even if I’m doing it in the desert! |
| Daniel Brethauer | MS | Ajay Sharma | ||
| Jon Brito | MS | Michael Andreu | ||
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Phillip "Justin" Bryars | MS | Pat Minogue |
I am a first semester distance student working on my M.S. in Restoration Ecology. I earned my B.S. in Biology and Plant Science from UWF, and have been working with the National Park Service for the past ten years. I started as a biological technician with the NPS doing everything from wildland firefighting to T and E species management to invasive species control, and I truly love what I do. Most recently I serve as an environmental compliance inspector/project liaison on restoration projects. I am excited to further my education and understanding of ecological principles to facilitate meaningful research and aid the projects I support! |
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Lynn Buchanan | MS | Advisors: Alison Adams and Mysha Clarke | Lynn was born in Pontiac, Michigan and raised in Marion County, Florida. She attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Philosophy in 2015. She then obtained her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 2018, and an LL.M. In Environmental Law from Vermont Law School’s distance learning program in 2020. She joined the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences in Fall, 2020 as a PhD student in Forest Resources and Conservation where she is studying the social impacts of Hurricane Michael on private forest landowners within the Florida Panhandle. |
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Hope Burk | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Alison Adams |
I am currently a distance student with a concentration in ecological restoration. I previously attended DePaul University studying Public Policy for my undergrad. My goals for my master degree is to gain better techniques on how to convey the importance of environmental conservation and turn that into policy. I am hoping to learn how to strengthen the conservation movement and how it can serve people from different socio-economic backgrounds. Most importantly, I am looking forward to learning about wildlife in different forest ecosystems and how we can advocate for them and for the conservation of their habitats. |
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Tess Busch | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Martha Monroe |
I am an online master’s student with SFRC and am pursuing a certificate in Environmental Education and Communication. I’ve worked for FL State Parks for six years and currently work at the District 3 office in Apopka, FL. I support the volunteer and education programs for 33 parks in the area. I am passionate about engaging with the community and park visitors to help them understand and appreciate the importance of Florida’s natural resources. I look forward to working with Martha to learn additional methods and educational tools to connect to diverse audiences. |
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Ariel Bushel | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Damian Adams |
I am a distance graduate student hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, where I work for the N.C. State Board of Elections on the Training and Outreach team. I found an interest in environmental policy and administration after becoming passionate for policy and community outreach from my job while also completing a graduate certificate in Aquaculture and Fish Health from UF. Furthering my education in the Natural Resource Policy & Administration will help me become an advocate and liaison regarding environmental issues for the public, environmental scientists, policy makers, and local fisheries. I feel strongly that it is important to have a diverse body of scientists that can articulate research to others while also using problem solving skills to create conservation policies. |
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Stephanie Cadaval | Ph.D. |
Advisor: Mysha Clarke Research interests: Urban forestry, gender, restoration, community participation, community resilience, coastal forests |
I have a Masters in Latin American Studies with a focus on Tropical Conservation and Development from the University of Florida. My previous work with Dr. Karen Kainer focused on gender and community mangrove use and restoration and community perceptions of volunteer mangrove restoration projects in Isla de Chira, Costa Rica. My new research interests centers on the human dimensions of urban forestry in the South Eastern United States. |
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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Sarah Cartmill | MS | Eben Broadbent | I am Active Duty Air Force currently serving in California. I am excited to pick back up on my educational pursuits after taking a few years off post undergrad to focus on my career. I’m extremely driven and desire to learn and succeed. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow and network with others as much as possible even though being enrolled in the distance learning program. |
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Denver T. Cayetano | Ph.D. | Daniel Johnson | I am a Belizean forester/ecologist with a passion for biodiversity conservation, landscape ecology, and forest dynamics, my interests primarily revolve around the exploration of disturbance, regeneration, and carbon dynamics in tropical forest ecosystems. I hold a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Management from the University of Belize and recently obtained an M.Sc. in Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, with a specialization in Tropical and International Forestry. My M.Sc. research delved into the impact of landscape structure on multi-taxon diversity in experimental tree islands situated within an oil-palm landscape. My Ph.D. research explores the potential of liana removal as a means to enhance carbon sequestration in logged-over forests in Belize. |
| Albert "Trey" Cayson | MFRC | Michael Andreu | ||
| Sarah Chiarella | MS | Martha Monroe | ||
| Alex Clark | MS | Michael Andreu | ||
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Natalie A. Cooper | Ph.D. | Martha Monroe | We must understand the various worldviews, values, and identities that shape the different ways people perceive, interact with, and connect to nature. This facilitates our ability to identify common ground and appreciate difference with others, meanwhile it helps to eliminate noise that otherwise muffles the natural resource problems we confront that demand collective efforts to solve. The importance of this task grows as competition for resources increases and tradeoffs in decision making intensify. I seek to contribute to this task by exploring different identities associated with connections to nature, particularly among farmers and other stakeholders of the Upper Floridan aquifer. My research is informed by my background in community-based resource management and conservation-development projects in rural areas of Brazil and Panama, as well as by my family ties to agriculture in Minnesota. |
| Samantha Daniel | MS | Alison Adams | ||
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Rashelle H. Deak | Ph.D. | Basil Iannone | I am a PhD student in Dr. Iannone’s lab, where our main goals are to mitigate the negative impacts of expanding residential landscapes, and to inform the design, construction, and management of urban and residential landscapes that support greater levels of biodiversity and ecological functioning. I obtained my MS in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida, and am currently researching the effects of landscaping plant choice on long-term invasion patterns. |
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Johanna Depenthal | Ph.D. | Karen Kainer | I first fell in love with “the rainforest” when I was five years old. After travel and research experiences in Guyana, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, I’m thrilled to be continuing my childhood interests by researching and supporting community-based tropical forest management in the Americas. I enjoy languages, being in the field, teaching (middle school students are the best!), and hosting large dinner gatherings. |
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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Kelli Dore | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Martha Monroe |
I am excited to be a part of the Master’s program in Natural Resource Policy and Administration. I received my Master’s Degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s in English from Salem State University. However, I have always been passionate about Florida’s natural resources having grown up on Florida’s south east coast. I started my educational career as a marine biology major many years ago and got cold feet so to say, but the environmental and marine sciences have always been a passion of mine and my commitment to protecting Florida’s unique and varied ecosystems for future generations is a driving factor in my decision to return to school after a career in human resources and business operations. |
| Paul Duff | MS | Alison Adams | ||
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Gaby Elliott | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am a Pittsburgh resident and Philadelphia native, and obtained my BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. My principal interests lie in urban forestry, ecological restoration, and environmental justice. I am a two-time AmeriCorps Alum, working first with the Maryland Conservation Corps and the Maryland Parks Service, and then with the McKees Rocks CDC in Pittsburgh. I have also worked with a number of environmental nonprofits, such as Tree Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory and botanical Gardens, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and the National Aquarium, amount others. I am excited to be working through my second semester at UF, and I am beyond grateful for the generosity and brilliance of both my instructors and my classmates. Go gators! |
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Joshua Epstein | Ph.D. | Matt Cohen | I am a PhD student in the Ecohydrology Laboratory at UF studying geographically isolated wetland (GIW) hydrology and biodiversity. Specifically, I am assessing the hydrologic, geomorphic, and geographic controls on plant, fish, and tadpole diversity within and across GIWs of three Southeastern USA landscapes (Ordway Swisher Biological Station, Austin Cary Forest, and Big Cypress National Preserve). I received my bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and my master’s degree in wildlife ecology and conservation from the University of Florida. |
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Hannah Gilpatrick | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Andres Susaeta |
I am originally from Indiana. I got my bachelor’s degree in Meteorology from the United States Air Force Academy. While I was there I became immersed in the outdoors and have been a passionate outdoors-woman ever since. I am now a cargo pilot in the Air Force and have enjoyed living all over the world. I am thrilled to be furthering my education into the forestry and conservation conservation realm. |
| Matthew Glaub | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Mysha Clarke |
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Kaylyn Glenn | MS | Daniel J. Johnson | Under the supervision of Dr. Johnson, I intend to focus my research on understanding the degree to which various land management practices influence microclimate. I will be examining and identifying the factors that promote and/or maintain these microclimatic buffering effects in our local forests. My research is driven by my desire to offer forest-based solutions that help conservation efforts in lessening the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. |
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Yuxi Guo | Ph.D. | Jiangxiao Qiu | |
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Felipe Gutierrez | Ph.D. |
Concentration: Tropical Conservation and Development Advisor: Bob Buschbacher |
Olá! I’m a passionate social-forester from Brazil interested in action-research related to governance, community forest management and development in the Amazon and other parts of the neotropics. I’m a graduate from the University of São Paulo, with a MSc from CATIE in Management and Conservation of Tropical Forests and Biodiversity, having worked for more than 20 years in Brazil and abroad (Australia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico). My family and I enjoy travelling and spending time outdoors, exploring and connecting to nature and different cultures-peoples. We have a home garden where we grow organic fruits, vegetables and spices and chillout with friends and Compay Segundo, our dog. Other leisure activities include: music, cooking, swimming and running. |
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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Austin Hargrove | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Tim Martin |
I am a Conservation Fellow for the Jones Center at Ichauway. I spend much of my time on prescribed burns, conducting timber stand improvement, and working with a number of game and non-game species. I will shortly be joining the Fish and Wildlife team at Fort Knox, Ky as a wildlife tech. I like to hunt, travel, and homebrew. |
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David Hecht | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Jason Vogel |
I am a distance student in the MS in Ecological Restoration program. I live in the Bay Area/California. I spent more than a decade in the investment management industry, researching and writing perspectives and conducting quantitative analysis. I had explored a career transition to the environmental sciences for several years, seeking the best path to complement my skill set. During this time, I volunteered in the field, attended conferences, and read extensively. Wes Jackson, Aldo Leopold, Wendell Berry and Rachel Carson are among the pioneers who have inspired me through their books and actions. |
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Zach Henshaw | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Rae Crandall |
My name is Zach Henshaw. I am currently a wildlife and forestry technician at The Jones Center at Ichauway in Newton, Georgia. Over the last 4 years, I have worked as a Red-cockaded woodpecker manager for various agencies across Georgia. Beyond that, much of my professional career has revolved around prescribed fire, avian research/management, T/E species (threatened and endangered), and LLPE (Longleaf Pine ecosystem) restoration and conservation. |
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Laura Hertz | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
My professional experience is in natural resources with the federal government. I have worked for the National Park Service in several locations, and I currently work as a Natural Resource Specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation in Bismarck, ND. My interests are in complex land management practices, specifically for Public Lands and Waterways. I work regularly with the implementation of NEPA regulations for land management projects, I have professional experience with land restoration projects, and I have implemented the work for environmental education grants awarded by the National Environmental Education Foundation and partnered with Bureau of Indian Education schools. |
| Beth Hooper | MS | Pat Minogue | ||
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Sthefanny Houghton | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Damian Adams |
I am a distance learning student in my first semester of the Natural Resource Policy and Administration masters program. I earned my B.S. in Forest Resource Conservation with a concentration in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from UF in 2014. For the past five years I have been working as an associate scientist for an environmental consulting firm in Winter Park, FL. I really enjoy my job and the diversity in responsibilities that it provides, including wetland delineations, vegetation monitoring, water quality testing, threatened and endangered species surveys, gopher tortoise relocations, report writing, and mitigation analyses. I chose to pursue the Natural Resource Policy and Administration program in order to learn about the creation and implementation of environmental laws in the U.S. as well as the management of stakeholder demands. I am very excited to be here and am looking forward to being able to implement what I learn in this program into my career. |
| Nicholas Humphreys | MS | Taylor Stein | ||
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Sadie Hundemer | Ph.D. | Martha Monroe | Sadie Hundemer is a Ph.D. student specializing in human dimensions and natural resources communication. Her cross-disciplinary research draws from the fields of psychology, communication, and economics to explore identity, mental models, moral foundations, and value priorities. Her mixed methods approach includes cultural domain analysis, media content analysis, experimental framing studies, and theories of measurement. She is currently researching framing and stakeholder perceptions of water issues pertaining to the Upper Floridan Aquifer. |
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Tammy Hunter |
MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Eben Broadbent |
I’m a former medical transcriptionist who decided it was time for a career change a bit later in life. I obtained my B.S. in zoology from Michigan State University and have worked with a variety of researchers on a few different herpetological projects. My main interests are herpetological conservation, restoration ecology, and spatial ecology. Outside of herps, I’m also an arachnid enthusiast and keep numerous tarantula species. For fun and relaxation, I love going to concerts, playing video games, and visiting the friends and family I have scattered across the US. |
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Andrea "Andie" Irons | Ph.D. | Raelene Crandall |
After working in fisheries monitoring over the last five years for the City of San Francisco, I am returning to my original passion in habitat conservation. I am researching the increasingly rare Pine Rocklands habitat of the Florida Everglades, focusing on the life-histories and niche requirements of three plant species of management concern. I am particularly interested in how fire and hydrology affect the population dynamics of the rare plant (Croton linearis), a host species for two endangered butterfly species. I received my B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, and my M.S. from SUNY-ESF (State University of New York, college of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Syracuse). My Master’s research explored riparian forest dynamics along the Sacramento River, CA, and my career has covered a range of biological fieldwork including rare plant surveys in northern California and sage-grouse habitat characterization in Nevada. |
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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Olivia Johnson | MS | Jason Vogel | I am a master’s student in the forestry department concentrating on nursery operations and management. My advisor is Dr. Jason Vogel, and I work as a technician for Andrew Sims with the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program. |
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Ramzi Khuri | MS | Michael Andreu | I graduated from the University of Florida in 1990 with MS and PhD degrees in Agricultural Operations Management. My 30 year career since then has taken me on a divergent path starting off as a computer programmer until more recently managing large software engineering teams building enterprise systems. Late last year, my wife Rachel Werenski (who has a background in Biology and Occupational Therapy) and I thought it would be challenging, rewarding, and most of all fun to pursue a degree together in a field of science we are most passionate about. We are thrilled to be back in school (taking it one course at a time) while continuing to work full time. We hope to one day use our newly acquired knowledge of forest systems and conservation to educate others and have a more positive impact on our wonderful planet! |
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Carrie Kimbrough | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I have always had a love for the outdoors and working in natural resource conservation has allowed me to follow this passion. I want to learn more about this field to become the best natural resource professional I can be. I love resource management and environmental education. I believe the pairing of these two is best for the environment and the people living in it. |
| Sarah Komenda | Ph.D. | Martha Monroe | ||
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Alaina Kurtz | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am a Jupiter, Florida native. I earned my BS in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Central Florida. I then taught for 3 years as a Science Educator at the South Florida Science Center & Aquarium. I also have some field experience working for a hydrogeological consulting firm doing environmental testing and sampling. I am most interested in learning about ecological restoration and hope to help in restoration projects in the future. |
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Sairandhri Lapalikar | Ph.D. | Ajay Sharma | My work focuses on the response of understory plant community in longleaf pine savannas to overstory manipulations and fire using a functional trait based approach. The goal of my work is to better understand the mechanisms behind community dynamics and use it help with management decisions. |
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Gage LaPierre | Ph.D. | Michael Andreu | Growing up in a rural setting in Marion county FL provided me with a unique childhood containing natural areas to explore coupled with rapid urban expansion into those areas. The importance of conserving, restoring, and maintaining the diversity and integrity of natural communities is my ultimate passion in life. Providing knowledge and understanding for others seeking to do the same has become the premier focus of my education. Groundcover restoration and enhancement is the focus of my PhD studies. At UF I help oversee the management of the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, as well as the UF Native Plant Nursery. |
| Latisa Ledbetter-Kish | MS | Ajay Sharma | ||
| Calyn Lee | MS | Michael Andreu |
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Gabe LeMay | MS | Jiri Hulcr | I’m a MS student interested in insect chemical ecology, plant-insect interactions, and pest behavior. I’ll be working with Dr. Jiri Hulcr in the Forest Entomology lab on a research project investigating potential semiochemical lures for the black turpentine beetle. Prior to joining UF, I’ve worked in basic and applied arthropod research labs at the University of Vermont where I received my B.S. I’ve also worked to develop integrated pest management strategies for the National Park Service in Utah and have assisted Hawaiian coffee growers in surveying populations of the invasive coffee berry borer among other insect pests. |
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Elysia Lewis | MS | Michael Andreu | I am entering my first year of my master’s degree in Forest Resources Conservation. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida and have been volunteering with organizations such as the North Florida Land Trust, Florida Forest Service, FWC, and City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation. I’ve been assisting an upland pine restoration at UF’s Natural Areas Teaching Laboratory (NATL), occasionally participating in prescribed burns, and I am also working on a master’s project with the Fire Ecology Lab concerning pollination of Aristida beyrichiana. I was recently selected for the Women in Wildfire Boot Camp hosted by Angeles National Forest, CA, which I will attend later in the semester. Overall, my long-term goal is to work for a governmental agency. I hope to acquire the skills and knowledge for an in-depth understanding of the core principles of environmental science and natural resources management. I am extremely passionate about the environment and public outreach, and I find great pleasure in educating others on the importance of supporting healthy ecosystems. |
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Brad Lovett | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am a distance learning student, currently in Miami, Fl. After graduating from New College of Florida, I spent 12 years as a project manager for a private contractor, working in and around the Everglades on a variety of vegetation restoration projects. I have worked for the past 2 years for Broward County Parks and Rec, heading their in-house vegetation management/invasion plant eradication team. As someone who grew up exploring the great Florida outdoors, I find no greater satisfaction than reclaiming invaded ecosystems and helping return them to their uniquely Floridian states. My research focuses on urban invasive plant management and finding treatment solutions for as of yet untreatable/hard to kill plants. |
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Siddarth Machado | Ph.D. | Daniel Johnson | I love tropical plants and forests. I am curious about the roles plants play in different ecosystems and how they come together to perform ecosystem functions. I am also curious about what disrupts these processes and so that we can effectively improve degraded landscapes and restore ecosystem function and integrity. I am most passionate about the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot of south India and can get enough of the floral wealth in the region. |
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Lukas Magee | Ph.D. | Daniel Johnson | My research focuses on mechanisms driving tree regeneration and how these processes influence species replacement and forest community structure. I am curious how species interactions determine assembly following tree mortality and how these assemblages vary across space and time. I am incorporating information on thousands of permanently marked trees, remote sensing data, and regeneration surveys to answer some of these questions. |
| Amontè Martin | Ph.D. | Alison Adams and Taylor Stein | ||
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Taylor May | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Alison Adams |
I am currently a distance student with a concentration in ecological restoration. I previously attended the University of Florida for my undergrad, where I received my bachelor of arts in Sociology Under the guidance of Dr. Adams I plan to use my sociology degree to understand the relationship between environmental concerns and marginalized communities and I plan to evaluate how the the modern conservation movement can be better served by expanding the reach of conservation efforts in the United States. I am currently living in Gainesville, Florida and look forward to the opportunities and knowledge that this program will bring and how I will be able to utilize them within my community. |
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Carla Mere Roncal | Ph.D. | Eben Broadbent | I am a Peruvian biologist, focused on the conservation of nature, with a special interest in the preservation of the Amazon rainforest. I am very passionate and motivated conservationist with strong desires to integrate conservation with social and sustainable economic development for local/indigenous communities. |
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Miranda Mila | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Andres Susaeta |
My name is Miranda Mila and I am a pilot currently living in West Texas. I graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Economics and Portuguese. I currently fly the C-130J but I have experience in various other aircraft. I enjoy backpacking and exploring the great outdoors! |
| Kristen Miller | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Taylor Stein |
| Photo | Name | Degree Seeking | Advisor | Bio |
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| Olivia Miserandino | MS | Damian Adams | ||
| Nicole Mitchell | MS | Raelene Crandall | ||
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Mallory Morgan | Ph.D. | Gary Peter | I completed my B.A. in environmental science from Colorado College in 2015 and was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in 2018 to support my graduate career in the Forest Genomics Lab at UF. My current research focus is to elucidate genetic and molecular mechanisms related to terpene production in southern pines with the goal of increasing pine terpene availability. Increasing terpene availability can 1) increase resistance to insects and pathogens and 2) be tapped for use as biofuels; two objectives that are well aligned with altered forest ecology and economy due to climate change. When I’m not in the lab or in the field, you can find me trail running with my dog or trail riding with my horse. |
| Booker Moritz | MS | Michael Andreu | ||
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Tracy Muzyczka |
MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am an Environmental Specialist for the Florida Park Service looking to contribute to the refinement of restoration practices. |
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Sarah Nelson | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
Hi, my name is Sarah Nelson, and I am pursuing my M.S. in Natural Resource Policy and Administration. I am a Gainesville native and my upbringing in Florida has been a great influence on my life and career. As of the beginning of 2021, I am the majority owner and Vice President of a local environmental consulting firm that I have been working with for the last nearly four years. We specialize in environmental permitting all throughout the state with a primary focus on wetland mitigation banks and other restoration projects. I am excited to be a part of this program and to collaborate with my fellow students. |
| Greg Owen | MS | Matt Cohen | ||
| Chad Palmer | MS | Denis Valle | ||
| Margaret Parrish | MS | Matt Cohen | ||
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Patricia Pendino | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Damian Adams |
I’m a native Floridian and have been working for the Florida Park Service for about 10 years in the southern end of the state. My interest in the policy and administration program stems from my being waist deep in it at the park unit level, and hope to develop my skills and expand my knowledge to assist in promotion. I am a big believer that if I can not change the world, perhaps I can help bring positive change to my home state. When not at work or working on school, I enjoy SCUBA diving, photography, Disney, questioning my life choices around mile 8 of half marathons, and working on visiting all of the the Florida State parks (for fun, not work) and becoming a Junior Ranger in all the National Parks, Monuments, and Preserves that I can. |
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Jenna Pochy | MS | Matt Cohen | I am a distance MS student studying Ecological Restoration and a Research Assistant with the Aquatic Biology Lab at the National Counsel for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., a nonprofit research company for the pulp and paper industry. I am interested in ecology because of its focus on spatial, temporal, and scalar aspects. I hope to further my career in natural resource management and found this program to be ideal for my lifestyle and future career interests. I like to volunteer on different research projects and explore my hobbies in microscopy, hiking, and crafts in my free time. |
| Tracey Prenger | MS | Jason Smith | ||
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Victoria Price | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Damian Adams |
I am a MS student pursing Natural Resource Policy and Administration degree. I received my bachelors degree in Public Relations and minor in Agriculture and Natural Resource Ethics and policy at UF in 2017. After graduating, I began working for UF/IFAS on a research grant and later joined the government affairs team that fall. I am now the Assistant Director of Government Affairs working as a lobbyist in Tallahassee – affecting policy, securing and protecting funding for UF/IFAS to continue serving Florida through research and Extension. I am interested in policy supporting water quality and conservation of resources which also fosters a strong innovative agriculture industry for the state. |
| Lei Qian | MS | Martha Monroe | ||
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Rhett Quigley | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Eben Broadbent |
My name is Rhett Quigley and I am in the Ecological Restoration degree program. This is my first semester at UF, I will be a distance learner. I mostly grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia which is where I currently live. Last month I received my BS in biology with a minor in chemistry from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. While I was at Shepherd I did a research internship with my ecology Professor Dr. John Steffen on the effects of carotenoids on painted turtle spot and stripe color. Just last month our research paper was published in the Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B peer-reviewed scientific journal, which was a significant milestone for me. Here is a link to that paper: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1cIWt3vK7PqyLW . I love all aspects of ecology, with a strong interest in ornithology. I use eBird to record my bird sightings. |
| Kenneth Rainer | Ph.D. | Martha Monroe | ||
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Megan Rasmussen | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am distance student in the Masters of Forest Resources and Conservation online program. I currently conduct environmental reviews for a transportation engineering company. My goal is to learn more about sustainable forest management, conservation, and mitigation strategies so I can apply that knowledge to my career to make better and more informed decisions. |
| Carolyn Rhodes | Ph.D. | Michael Andreu | ||
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Susana Ruiz Díaz | Ph.D. | Stephanie Bohlman | My research interest focuses on forest ecology, particularly phenology and its applications and relation to other ecological phenomena. I have experience working in the Cerrado and Dry Chaco in Paraguay. My dissertation will focus on the phenology of the Paraguayan Dry Chaco and its relation to biomass and forest structure. |
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Gabby Salazar | Ph.D. | Martha Monroe | I am interested in how conservation education and outreach campaigns influence human behavior and conservation outcomes. For my dissertation, I will explore how environmental images influence attitudes and conservation behavior. I have an MSc in Conservation Science and a background in conservation photojournalism. |
| Hank Schmidt | MS | Matias Kirst | ||
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Havala Schumacher | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Taylor Stein |
I am a distance student in the Natural Resource Policy & Administration MS and Environmental Education and Communication certificate programs, planning to finish in summer 2021. I currently work in the Programs division of NRCS’s national office as one of the Conservation Innovation Grants program’s managers. When I’m not in front of my computer screen working or online learning, you can find me in my kitchen or playing outside. |
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Jesse Scott | Ph.D. | Eben Broadbent |
I am a remotely-based hybrid PhD student within the Forest Resources and Conservation – Ecological Restoration program advised by Dr. Eben Broadbent. Within the Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, my research interests involve geospatial analysis of wildlife predator-prey biology, forest composition, and eco-hydrology dynamics. I completed my M.S. within this same program and a research publication involving the use geospatial data-derived methods to identify lepidopteran critical habitats and disturbance-dependent ecological regimes, co-authored by Dr. Alison Adams and Dr. Broadbent. I received my Bachelor of Applied Science from St. Petersburg College in Sustainability Management. I am employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the St. Paul District’s Water Management Section as a Hydrologist and GeoSpatial Scientist. My position combines my professional background in environmental and hydrological sciences towards various water management, ecology and water quality research, river and reservoir regulation, and emergency operations for the entire Upper Mississippi Watershed Basin. When I am not studying, I spend my time sauntering through the wilderness and paddling the lakes and streams. I am also a career senior military officer with responsibilities involving overseeing the Coast Guard’s Sea Partners Program and environmental outreach for the ‘Heartland District’. |
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Dylan Shaw | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Michael Andreu |
I am from Florence, AL and currently work as a biologist for Alabama Power Company (APC) in Birmingham, AL. Our work mostly consists of managing threatened and endangered species on APC lands and leases (including the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, and trispot darter), managing regulatory requirements for our hydroelectric operations (managing wood duck boxes, conducting eagle surveys, etc.), and collaborating with state and federal entities on conservation projects around the state. I believe that the best conservation work happens when people with a wide range of values can come together for a common cause. I look forward to my time as a graduate student at UF! |
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Alfredo Soto | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Damian Adams |
I currently live in Ajo, Arizona as a distance student in the program. I’ve previously lived in Fairbanks, Alaska and a short stint in Folkston, Georgia after graduating with a Zoology degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. I work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the management series and hope to continue to advance my career in the field. This degree program will undoubtedly give me the tools and knowledge necessary to become stronger in this field. In order to enhance my understanding all the ecosystems in this country and others, I enjoy exploring new places. The national wildlife refuge system has allowed me experience great wonders. I’m looking forward to many more especially with my family by my side. |
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Deborah Stone | Ph.D. | Michael Andreu |
I am a PhD student interested in the bio-economics of land management in Florida, specifically invasive species management, fire-vegetation feedbacks, and interactions between the two. I am developing models to: 1) simulate how invasive species might spread across a heterogenous landscape and how different levels of control effort affect this spread; and 2) simulate how prescribed fire might spread across vegetation in a heterogenous landscape, and how this in turn affects the vegetation and future fires. I currently work for the Florida Park Service and my past work experience includes The Nature Conservancy, St. Johns River Water Management District, Hillsborough County and Historic Bok Tower Gardens. My career focus has been on the different aspects of vegetation management, and utilizing technology and tools to help improve on-the-ground decision making. |
| Stephanie Stoutamire | MS |
Concentration: Natural Resource Policy & Administration Advisor: Andres Susaeta |
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John Tracy | Ph.D. | Ajay Sharma | I am involved in multidiscipline research that will study the effects of slough restoration within the Apalachicola River Basin of Florida. With a professional background in bottomland hardwood management, I am excited to apply my skill set within the academic realm and am ready to expand my knowledge of ecological restoration. |
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Hannah Turbiville | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Raelene Crandall |
I am a distance learning student at UF studying Ecological Restoration and am currently located in Tallahassee, FL. I recently graduated from FGCU with my B.A. in Environmental Studies and have come to UF to continue my education. I have strong interests in ecological restoration, land acquisition and land management and plan to incorporate these interests into my schooling and career. |
| Agueda Urbina | MS | Damian Adams | ||
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Ana Luiza Violato Espada | Ph.D. | Karen Kainer |
Ana Luiza Violato Espada is a Tropical Conservation and Development Program member (http://uftcd.org/) and PhD student in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) at UF working with Dr. Karen Kainer. Ana holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resources Management and Local Development in the Amazon (Federal University of Pará). She has an extensive professional experience with community-based forest management in the tropics. When she worked in a socio-environmental non-profit organization (Tropical Forest Institute), Ana got involved with communities from Sustainable Use Protected Areas in Brazilian Amazon. From this experience, her research interests are: understand what have led communities to legally manage their timber, identify variation in co-managed forest schemes, and analyze how specific logging strategies and their integration of different types of knowledge have affected forest governance. Developing a participatory-action research in extractive reserves from Acre, Amazonas, and Pará states, her research will contribute to the understanding of the adaptive multi-stakeholder’s process to conserve forest and promote rural development. Research interests: Forest Conservation; Community-Based Forest Management; Community Empowerment; Decision Making; Adaptive Natural Resources Governance; Protected Areas Management; Logging; Brazilian Amazon |
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Clayton Wagner | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Jason Vogel |
I have a graduate certificate from UF in Natural Resource Policy and Administration and a bachelors degree from UCF in Molecular Biology and Microbiology. I have been a game warden for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for about eight years where I started out in the Florida Keys for five years and transferred to Naples where I currently live. |
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Charles Wallace | Ph.D. | Ed Camp and Mysha Clarke | My research is focused on developing a quantitative analysis of ecosystem services that oysters provide. This project aims to estimate return on investment for inclusion in restoration costs with hopes that it will provide a framework for managers when wanting to restore oysters. I am currently using the ecosystem service program inVEST to assess return on investment of the Lone Cabbage Reef Restoration Project in Suwannee Sound, Florida. |
| Jennifer Walls | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Martha Monroe |
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Rachel Werenski | MS | Michael Andreu | I earned my undergraduate BA degree in 2000 with majors in Biology and Environmental Studies. None of the volunteer or paid work I’ve done since then has been in the field of environmental science, but rather I’ve worked with people who are marginalized from wider society in a variety of settings. I went back to graduate school and earned my Masters in Occupational Therapy degree in 2011. Since then, I have been working with children with special needs/disabilities in outpatient clinics and schools. My husband Ramzi Khuri and I decided to pursue greater academic knowledge about the environment–a shared love–and just started our first course at UF together for the summer 2021 semester. Here’s to opening a new chapter in this life and wonderment of what the future may hold! |
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Miranda Wilkinson | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Tim Martin |
I am a distance MS student studying Ecological Restoration under a fellowship through the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Center at Ichauway in Newton, GA. My previous years’ field work since earning my BS in December of 2018 has been primarily focused on bird research, though I have interests in all flora and fauna. During my fellowship I will be working as a full time land management and conservation technician while completing my MS. I hope to focus on longleaf pine restoration, fire ecology, and conservation of species endemic to longleaf pine ecosystems. I hope to further my career in wildlife and natural resource management, and learn to become a better overall ecologist. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, photography, and taking my dog on adventures. |
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Wendi Wilson |
MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Mysha Clarke |
I am originally from Vermont but have lived just outside Philadelphia since 1998. I got a BS in Biology from Cabrini College and then a masters in Education from Villanova. Before getting my masters in education, I spent time working with the Clean Water Act department at the EPA region 3 in Philadelphia. I then turned towards education and have been teaching middle school science since 2004. |
| Jon Winchester | MS | Wendell Cropper |
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| Jackson Ryan Woods | MS | Eben Broadbent | I live in Orlando, Florida where I was born and have spent most of my life. I received my Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Florida State University in May 2020. I am very passionate about Florida’s natural systems and the many services they provide. I grew up fishing, surfing, camping, and hiking, which are still some of my favorite hobbies. I also love traveling and my goal is to visit every U.S National Park! | |
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Yanira Zelaya | MS |
Concentration: Ecological Restoration Advisor: Damian Adams |
I am a Miami, Florida native but currently reside in Asheville, NC, while pursuing a Master’s degree in Forest Resources and Conservation with a concentration in Ecological Restoration. My research interest also includes environmental evaluation models, carbon neutrality, and the impacts of single-use plastics. My most recent accomplishment is launching my first start up, with a mobile refillery concept. My career goal is to work for a governmental agency as an environmental policy maker or consultant. |