Personal Summary

I manage UM owned natural areas in Missoula County, including M Sentinel and lands at Fort Missoula.  The main issues in those areas are 1) invasive plants and 2) high use by recreationists.

My job includes direct management of invasive plants via integrated plant management methods, applied research on restoration approaches, community outreach and education, mentoring undergraduates in work based internships, and development and marketing of this work.

I love teaching botany in a range of settings, including UM classes, work based internships for undergraduates interested in restoration ecology, through Missoula County Life Long Learning Program, or for Montana FWP's Outdoor Woman series.

I have served on the board of directors of many related Montana non-profits including, the Montana Natural History Center, the Montana Native Plant Society, Friends of the UM Herbarium, Montana Weed Control Associan and the Northern Rockies Invasive Plant Council.

I served on the Missoula City Council from 2007-2017, and am currently serving my first term in the Montana State Legislature, representing House District 90..

Education

University of California, Davis, 1994, BS Biology

Unviersity of Montana, 1997, MS Ecology

Courses Taught

I love teaching botany in a range of settings, including UM classes, work based internships for undergraduates interested in restoration ecology, through Missoula County Life Long Learning Program, or for Montana FWP's Outdoor Woman series.

UM courses: General Botany, Rocky Mountain Flora, Intro to Environmental Sciences. various internships and independent study courses.

Teaching Experience

General botany Rocky Mountain Flora Work based internships on native plants and restoration

Field of Study

Botany, plant ecology

Specialized Skills

Plant identification

Integrated weed management

Teaching for various audiences

Professional Experience

UM staff and adjunct for 22 years.

Consulting for private landowners (gardening, weed management and more)

Served in local and state government since 2006.

International Experience

Fulbright Fellow to Vietnam 

Honors / Awards

Fulbright Specialist, 2016

Arnold Bolle Conservation Professional Award 2011