About Biological Assessment and Plant Conservation Manager at the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. Senior natural heritage botanist/ecologist. Ph.D candidate @ the University of Kentucky specializing in rare orchid and community research and recovery. I am a botanist and ecologist in the southeastern United States with over 20 years of experience in surveys, monitoring, management, conservation, research, protection and conservation  leadership. Specializing in plant, insect (pollinators, rare insects) and natural community conservation. I currently lead a team of 9 full team natural heritage and recovery biologists at the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, the states natural heritage and natural areas programs. In my role, I develop priority programs and funding to support our mission, focusing on preventing species extinctions and recovering rare species along with training and mentoring our heritage/ recovery biologists and land managers. Additionally, I oversee several statewide efforts to recover and protect rare and endangered species, contributing to the preservation of Kentucky’s unique biodiversity. As a senior heritage biologist, I have developed expertise in plants and natural communities, as well as numerous terrestrial invertebrate taxa (Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata) and work on several inventory and conservation projects as well as training staff on heritage methodology and biodiversity. I work with conservation partners on building Kentucky's Plant Conservation Alliance and welcome any partnerships that help advance our mission of biodiversity protection, education and research. I serve on the board of the Kentucky Native Plant Society and Kentucky Natural Lands Trust. I am a current PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky specializing in rare orchid and community restoration, expected graduation date May 2026. Specialties: biodiversity assessments of natural areas, conservation program development, staff management, rare plant surveys (vascular and nonvascular), general floristic surveys (vascular and nonvascular), rare plant and natural community monitoring and management, native plant restoration, natural community classification, rare insect surveys, plant-insect interactions, pollinator species, leader in site protection and conservation efforts, biodiversity educator, natural area explorer.