Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS)
Certified Ecologist (ESA)
Director of College Programs, Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies
I am an ecologist and environmental scientist working at the intersection of wetland ecology, plant community dynamics, and applied environmental stewardship. My research integrates field experimentation, geospatial modeling, and distributed ecological collaboration to better understand how ecosystems respond to climate change, disturbance, and restoration.
I currently serve as Director of College Programs at the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, where I coordinate academic programs, professional certificates, and research while continuing to teach field-based wetland science.
My scholarly work has contributed to global coordinated ecological experiments, restoration ecology, and climate-driven shifts in plant communities, with publications in journals including Nature, Science, Global Change Biology, Global Ecology and Biogeography, Restoration Ecology, and PLoS ONE.
Research Themes
Wetland Ecology & Climate Change
Forecasting how wetland plant communities respond to warming, hydrologic variability, and shifting environmental gradients using field experiments and geospatial modeling.
Plant Community Assembly & Biodiversity
Collaborative research examining productivity–diversity relationships and large-scale ecological patterns across continents.
Restoration Ecology & Applied Environmental Science
Integrating genomics, remote sensing, and field-based monitoring to support ecosystem restoration and environmental assessment.
Current Focus
Academic program leadership and curriculum development in environmental science
Professional training in wetland delineation and field techniques
Ongoing collaboration in distributed ecological research networks
Mentorship of undergraduate researchers and early-career scientists
Professional Certifications
Professional Wetland Scientist (Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program)
Certified Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America)
FAA Certified Commercial Drone Pilot
The Garris Lab 