About

I am the Director of Science and Conservation at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the state botanical garden of Texas and a field station of the University of Texas at Austin. As a restoration ecologist, I study the response of grassland plants and pollinators to landscape and management, with the goal of finding ways to improve habitat restoration for these important groups. My primary research interests include disturbance ecology, insect dispersal and colonization, and drivers of community change across restored habitats.  Please see the Research page for detailed descriptions of my current projects and study sites!

I am also passionate about community engagement, outreach, and improving access to nature and science education for historically underrepresented groups. Please see my Outreach page for a list of community engagement activities, and feel welcome to reach out through email for pollinator-focused lesson plans, outreach talks, or community-focused collaborations!