University of Central Florida
I twenty-five years' experience directing research and academic programs focused on various aspects of ecology and the environment. Throughout my career I have worked to build strong teams and cultivate diverse, collaborative partnerships to better understand human impacts on the environment and improve our relationship with nature. I am a professor of biology at the University of Central Florida where oversee and urban ecology lab. My current research projects focuss on insect ecology and conservation in urban systems with a focus on pollinators.
From 2010-2022, I was Director of Landscape and Natural Resources (LNR) and Arboretum at the UCF. Under my leadership the LNR department became recognized for their work in urban ecology, conservation, and sustainable landscaping. The impact of the UCF Arboretum grew dramatically during my tenure. We implemented an innovative student leadership development program that now includes nearly 60 students per semester. Our media and marketing team was instrumental in expanding our outreach and communication efforts, including ar social media presence that now exceeds 7,000 followers.
Prior to working at UCF, I was director of the Agro-ecology program at Archbold Biological Station which is now part of the USDA's Long-Term Agricultural Research Network (LTAR). My experience there included several innovative conservation partnerships, including a payment-for-ecosystem-services program on Florida ranches. That program was developed through a pioneering collaboration with state and federal agencies and environmental NGOs, and was spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund. As research director I led several multi-disciplinary research projects with university partners focused on the ecology, environmental impact, and conservation value of Florida's cattle ranches.