Principle Investigator:
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Current Research Group Members (Alphabetical)
Kira Minehart, Ph.D. student in Environmental Sciences
Kira is a researcher, advocate, and explorer of the American West. She has lived, studied, and played in California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and now resides in Oregon with her cat and three bicycles. Her curiosity towards protected area resilience led her to a PhD at Oregon State University via the Provost Fellowship.
Kira strives to apply her background in quantitative analysis to promote the preservation and resilience of wild landscapes. Her research uses GIS, remote sensing, and modeling to detect and interpret climate change impacts on terrestrial protected areas. Kira's preference for open source tools is connected to an interest in open data and accessible science. She hopes to engage others in STEM through effective teaching, learning, and science communication. Consequently, she is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching through OSU and dreams of teaching field-based research and GIS courses after completing her PhD.
Kira holds a B.S. and M.S. in Earth Systems Science from Stanford University in addition to a minor in Science Communication. Her Master's research assessed ecoregion diversity in California Wilderness Areas using GIS. After completing her Masters degree, Kira worked as a park ranger in the Grand Canyon, a GIS consultant in Washington D.C., and an environmental educator in Olympic National Park before serving as the director of the GIS Certificate Program at Colorado Mountain College. In addition to her research at OSU, Kira is currently working as a GIS Consultant for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Fire Writers LLC.
Kira is a researcher, advocate, and explorer of the American West. She has lived, studied, and played in California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and now resides in Oregon with her cat and three bicycles. Her curiosity towards protected area resilience led her to a PhD at Oregon State University via the Provost Fellowship.
Kira strives to apply her background in quantitative analysis to promote the preservation and resilience of wild landscapes. Her research uses GIS, remote sensing, and modeling to detect and interpret climate change impacts on terrestrial protected areas. Kira's preference for open source tools is connected to an interest in open data and accessible science. She hopes to engage others in STEM through effective teaching, learning, and science communication. Consequently, she is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching through OSU and dreams of teaching field-based research and GIS courses after completing her PhD.
Kira holds a B.S. and M.S. in Earth Systems Science from Stanford University in addition to a minor in Science Communication. Her Master's research assessed ecoregion diversity in California Wilderness Areas using GIS. After completing her Masters degree, Kira worked as a park ranger in the Grand Canyon, a GIS consultant in Washington D.C., and an environmental educator in Olympic National Park before serving as the director of the GIS Certificate Program at Colorado Mountain College. In addition to her research at OSU, Kira is currently working as a GIS Consultant for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Fire Writers LLC.
Dr. Madeline Aberg (she/her), Postdoctoral Scholar
(co-mentored with Dr. Troy Hall)
(https://madelineaberg.wixsite.com/my-site)
Madeline is interested in the challenge of balancing human activities with conservation. She studies the social and ecological dynamics of outdoor recreational activities, wildlife populations, and public lands. Madeline is especially interested in the feedbacks between the human and environmental systems of recreation. At Oregon State, Madeline is working on a project implementing the Interagency Visitor Use Management framework at state parks in California.
Madeline has a BA in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College and a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from Boise State University. During her undergraduate research studying bison mating behaviors, Madeline became interested in research that provides information for managers of natural resources. After college, Madeline worked as an environmental educator at the International Wolf Center and Rocky Mountain National Park. These experiences increased her interest in the role of humans in conservation. explored these interests as a biological and social science technician at Denali National Park and Preserve through Geoscientists-in-the-Parks. During her PhD, Madeline I studied recreation at the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Boise, Idaho. She focused on the interactions between the social system (recreationists, management agencies) and the ecological system (prey species, scavengers, and ground-nesting birds). In her free time, Madeline enjoys camping, gardening, and cooking.
(co-mentored with Dr. Troy Hall)
(https://madelineaberg.wixsite.com/my-site)
Madeline is interested in the challenge of balancing human activities with conservation. She studies the social and ecological dynamics of outdoor recreational activities, wildlife populations, and public lands. Madeline is especially interested in the feedbacks between the human and environmental systems of recreation. At Oregon State, Madeline is working on a project implementing the Interagency Visitor Use Management framework at state parks in California.
Madeline has a BA in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College and a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from Boise State University. During her undergraduate research studying bison mating behaviors, Madeline became interested in research that provides information for managers of natural resources. After college, Madeline worked as an environmental educator at the International Wolf Center and Rocky Mountain National Park. These experiences increased her interest in the role of humans in conservation. explored these interests as a biological and social science technician at Denali National Park and Preserve through Geoscientists-in-the-Parks. During her PhD, Madeline I studied recreation at the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Boise, Idaho. She focused on the interactions between the social system (recreationists, management agencies) and the ecological system (prey species, scavengers, and ground-nesting birds). In her free time, Madeline enjoys camping, gardening, and cooking.
Current Undergraduate Technicians
Former Research Group Members
Lara Jacobs, Ph.D. in Forest Ecosystems and Society (2023)
Lara Jacobs is a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma and has Choctaw heritage. She completed her Ph.D. in the Forest Ecosystems and Society Department in 2023. Her doctoral research centered on understanding the pathogenic and ecological impacts of outdoor recreation in National Park areas that Tribal peoples use for subsistence purposes. Lara also published manuscripts that center decolonization, Indigenous sovereignty (especially Indigenous land management and co-management of public lands), #LANDBACK, and COVID-19 impacts in parks and protected areas. Lara’s research and education at OSU were funded by the Ford Foundation, Cobell Scholarship, Benton County Foundation, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Native Nations Institute, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, and many other internal and external sources. Lara was the recipient of the 2020 Forest Ecosystems and Society Outstanding Ph.D. Student Achievement Award, the 2021 (Martin Luther King Junior Legacy) Oscar Humberto Montemayor Award, and the 2021 Forest Ecosystems and Society Social Scientist Award. Lara contributed widely to the OSU community in her roles as President of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Chair and Graduate Student Representative of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Club, Secretary of the Indigenous Graduate Student Alliance, support and work on the College of Forestry’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, and through her time as the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer for the College of Forestry’s Graduate Student Council.
Lara holds an Environmental Studies Master’s Degree from Prescott College, where she focused her studies in Environmental Education, Conservation Science, and Sustainability. For Lara’s Master’s thesis, she explored the sustainability and gender performances of Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers. She also earned a certificate from the University of Toronto in GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis Specialization. In addition to her own research, Lara played a substantial role in the development and facilitation of a project focused on how crisis-based conservation efforts have impacted the population growth of an endangered/seriously threatened plant called Phacelia argentea. While in graduate school, Lara was also been involved with Traditional Ecological Knowledge-based research and contributed to Oregon Climate Change Research Institute’s most recent publication for the Oregon Legislature: Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment, Tribal Cultural Resources. Before graduate studies, Lara attended Oregon State University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women Studies. For this degree, she merged her interests in environmental issues with topics pertaining to systems of oppression and privilege. Beyond her educational history, Lara’s professional background includes experience with directing nonprofit and Tribal Government programs, including a Youth Training Academy. Furthermore, as a contract researcher and grant writer, Lara has helped to support the capacity-building efforts of Tribal Nations and nonprofit organizations. In academic settings, Lara possesses experience with instructing, creating, and redesigning multiple undergraduate and graduate-level research methods courses. She’s mentored countless students, currently serves on a graduate thesis committee, and has served as a research advisor to multiple students. Additionally, Lara holds fifteen years of experience as a professional landscape and portrait photographer/studio owner. After the completion of her Ph.D. program, Lara started a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the STEM Ed PaCER Program at Michigan State University.
Lara Jacobs is a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma and has Choctaw heritage. She completed her Ph.D. in the Forest Ecosystems and Society Department in 2023. Her doctoral research centered on understanding the pathogenic and ecological impacts of outdoor recreation in National Park areas that Tribal peoples use for subsistence purposes. Lara also published manuscripts that center decolonization, Indigenous sovereignty (especially Indigenous land management and co-management of public lands), #LANDBACK, and COVID-19 impacts in parks and protected areas. Lara’s research and education at OSU were funded by the Ford Foundation, Cobell Scholarship, Benton County Foundation, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Native Nations Institute, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, and many other internal and external sources. Lara was the recipient of the 2020 Forest Ecosystems and Society Outstanding Ph.D. Student Achievement Award, the 2021 (Martin Luther King Junior Legacy) Oscar Humberto Montemayor Award, and the 2021 Forest Ecosystems and Society Social Scientist Award. Lara contributed widely to the OSU community in her roles as President of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Chair and Graduate Student Representative of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Club, Secretary of the Indigenous Graduate Student Alliance, support and work on the College of Forestry’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, and through her time as the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer for the College of Forestry’s Graduate Student Council.
Lara holds an Environmental Studies Master’s Degree from Prescott College, where she focused her studies in Environmental Education, Conservation Science, and Sustainability. For Lara’s Master’s thesis, she explored the sustainability and gender performances of Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers. She also earned a certificate from the University of Toronto in GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis Specialization. In addition to her own research, Lara played a substantial role in the development and facilitation of a project focused on how crisis-based conservation efforts have impacted the population growth of an endangered/seriously threatened plant called Phacelia argentea. While in graduate school, Lara was also been involved with Traditional Ecological Knowledge-based research and contributed to Oregon Climate Change Research Institute’s most recent publication for the Oregon Legislature: Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment, Tribal Cultural Resources. Before graduate studies, Lara attended Oregon State University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women Studies. For this degree, she merged her interests in environmental issues with topics pertaining to systems of oppression and privilege. Beyond her educational history, Lara’s professional background includes experience with directing nonprofit and Tribal Government programs, including a Youth Training Academy. Furthermore, as a contract researcher and grant writer, Lara has helped to support the capacity-building efforts of Tribal Nations and nonprofit organizations. In academic settings, Lara possesses experience with instructing, creating, and redesigning multiple undergraduate and graduate-level research methods courses. She’s mentored countless students, currently serves on a graduate thesis committee, and has served as a research advisor to multiple students. Additionally, Lara holds fifteen years of experience as a professional landscape and portrait photographer/studio owner. After the completion of her Ph.D. program, Lara started a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the STEM Ed PaCER Program at Michigan State University.
Susie (Irizarry) Sidder, Ph.D. in Forest Ecosystems and Society (2023)
Susie brought 10 years of professional experience working to support public lands management through applied social science research to her Ph.D. research in the D’Antonio Lab. Susie’s dissertation focused on exploring theoretical and methodological advances for studying human movement in parks and protected areas. Susie takes an interdisciplinary approach to her work, integrating theory and methods from sociology, psychology, wildlife biology, landscape ecology, and geography to inform her research designs and analytic approaches. Susie is passionate about working on applied research, tailored to fit the information needs of land managers. In the D’Antonio Lab, Susie supported backcountry visitor use monitoring in Capitol Reef National Park, visitor use and research condition monitoring in Yellowstone National Park and Golden Gate Recreation Area, and studies of wilderness visitor use in Yosemite National Park and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Susie is originally from Florida, where her outdoor experiences centered on exploring the scrubby pine forests and coastal ecosystems characteristic of central Florida’s east coast. Experiences in these unique ecosystems sparked a curiosity in Susie about the dynamics of natural systems and how people influence these systems. This interest lead her to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from Clemson University. After graduation, an internship with the Student Conservation Association in Yosemite National Park introduced her to the field of human dimensions of natural resources management, and she has not looked back since! Susie earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Idaho, where she explored wilderness day use patterns through social and spatial measures among hikers in Yosemite National Park. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D. at Oregon State University (OSU), Susie worked as a public lands planning and management research analyst at Resource Systems Group, Inc., contributing to social science research in federally protected public lands. In her free time, Susie enjoys mountain biking, gardening, traveling, and experimenting with gluten-free baking. Currently, Susie is the Visitor Use Management Program Manager at Glacier National Park.
Susie brought 10 years of professional experience working to support public lands management through applied social science research to her Ph.D. research in the D’Antonio Lab. Susie’s dissertation focused on exploring theoretical and methodological advances for studying human movement in parks and protected areas. Susie takes an interdisciplinary approach to her work, integrating theory and methods from sociology, psychology, wildlife biology, landscape ecology, and geography to inform her research designs and analytic approaches. Susie is passionate about working on applied research, tailored to fit the information needs of land managers. In the D’Antonio Lab, Susie supported backcountry visitor use monitoring in Capitol Reef National Park, visitor use and research condition monitoring in Yellowstone National Park and Golden Gate Recreation Area, and studies of wilderness visitor use in Yosemite National Park and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Susie is originally from Florida, where her outdoor experiences centered on exploring the scrubby pine forests and coastal ecosystems characteristic of central Florida’s east coast. Experiences in these unique ecosystems sparked a curiosity in Susie about the dynamics of natural systems and how people influence these systems. This interest lead her to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from Clemson University. After graduation, an internship with the Student Conservation Association in Yosemite National Park introduced her to the field of human dimensions of natural resources management, and she has not looked back since! Susie earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Idaho, where she explored wilderness day use patterns through social and spatial measures among hikers in Yosemite National Park. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D. at Oregon State University (OSU), Susie worked as a public lands planning and management research analyst at Resource Systems Group, Inc., contributing to social science research in federally protected public lands. In her free time, Susie enjoys mountain biking, gardening, traveling, and experimenting with gluten-free baking. Currently, Susie is the Visitor Use Management Program Manager at Glacier National Park.
Dr. Evan Bredeweg, Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2023)
(https://evanbredeweg.weebly.com/)
Evan was born in Colorado and has lived in a variety of states growing up. He earned his BS in Environmental Biology from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. After finishing his undergraduate degree, Evan moved to New Zealand for a year as a part of a Fulbright grant to research the conservation biology of the endemic Tuatara. After returning from New Zealand, he moved to Omaha to work in an analytical soils lab while his wife completed her professional schooling. Evan returned to Oregon for graduate school to earn his PhD from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. He is an ecologist specializing in animal movement and behavior. His dissertation research examined environmental and community factors that shape the movement of recently metamorphosed frogs and explored the implication of these movements in future conditions. Throughout his research, the dynamic nature of animals interacting with their environment has been a key aspect in his work. Dr. Bredeweg was an essential part of the National Park Foundation Social Science Fellowship project in the lab. Bringing expertise in wildlife science and landscape ecology and focusing his efforts on making deliverables and methods accessible to park managers. Outside of science, he enjoys spending time with his wife, 3-year-old son, and their dog. They spend their time cooking, pretending to ride trains, and playing frisbee. Evan is currently a research associate in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at OSU.
(https://evanbredeweg.weebly.com/)
Evan was born in Colorado and has lived in a variety of states growing up. He earned his BS in Environmental Biology from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. After finishing his undergraduate degree, Evan moved to New Zealand for a year as a part of a Fulbright grant to research the conservation biology of the endemic Tuatara. After returning from New Zealand, he moved to Omaha to work in an analytical soils lab while his wife completed her professional schooling. Evan returned to Oregon for graduate school to earn his PhD from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. He is an ecologist specializing in animal movement and behavior. His dissertation research examined environmental and community factors that shape the movement of recently metamorphosed frogs and explored the implication of these movements in future conditions. Throughout his research, the dynamic nature of animals interacting with their environment has been a key aspect in his work. Dr. Bredeweg was an essential part of the National Park Foundation Social Science Fellowship project in the lab. Bringing expertise in wildlife science and landscape ecology and focusing his efforts on making deliverables and methods accessible to park managers. Outside of science, he enjoys spending time with his wife, 3-year-old son, and their dog. They spend their time cooking, pretending to ride trains, and playing frisbee. Evan is currently a research associate in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at OSU.
Jenna Baker, M.S. in Forest Ecosystems and Society (2020)
Raised in the foothills of Colorado, Jenna journeyed further west to attend Willamette University where she graduated as the Mark O. Hatfield Public Service scholar with a BA in History. Her post-undergrad years included a smattering of adventures and jobs that honed her desire to better understand the relationships between people and how they interact with the outdoors. She spent her summers in college leading trail and chainsaw crews in the Rocky Mountains. She then lived in Fairbanks for three years where she worked as a field and data technician for the University of Alaska’s Long Term Ecological Research program. Lastly, upon returning to the lower 48, she managed communications and development for a Corvallis-based environmental non-profit. Jenna is interested in how the motivations and behaviors of recreationists in parks and protected areas influence visitor experience and management decisions. Her research was conducted in Grand Tetons National Park, where she was part of a larger 2-year study assessing visitor use and visitor impact within a highly used recreation site. Jenna is currently the recreation and engagement program manager at the OSU Research Forests
Raised in the foothills of Colorado, Jenna journeyed further west to attend Willamette University where she graduated as the Mark O. Hatfield Public Service scholar with a BA in History. Her post-undergrad years included a smattering of adventures and jobs that honed her desire to better understand the relationships between people and how they interact with the outdoors. She spent her summers in college leading trail and chainsaw crews in the Rocky Mountains. She then lived in Fairbanks for three years where she worked as a field and data technician for the University of Alaska’s Long Term Ecological Research program. Lastly, upon returning to the lower 48, she managed communications and development for a Corvallis-based environmental non-profit. Jenna is interested in how the motivations and behaviors of recreationists in parks and protected areas influence visitor experience and management decisions. Her research was conducted in Grand Tetons National Park, where she was part of a larger 2-year study assessing visitor use and visitor impact within a highly used recreation site. Jenna is currently the recreation and engagement program manager at the OSU Research Forests
Carli (Ewert) Schoenleber, M.S. in Forest Ecosystems and Society (2019)
Originally from Minnesota lake country, Carli received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. After graduating, she worked with environmental consulting firms in Minneapolis and Los Angeles doing environmental compliance, land use planning, wetland delineations, and GIS analyses. She also spent a short time working as a Soil Science Field Instructor here in Oregon at the Northwest Outdoor Science School. Between jobs, she made travel a priority and has spent time backpacking in India, Central America, and SE Asia. In seeing the different ways people around the world think about the environment, she was inspired to learn more about how conservation psychology can play a major role in solving global environmental issues. Working with Dr. D’Antonio, Carli’s research at OSU focused on human behavior and communication in outdoor recreation areas, specifically focusing on how to prevent people from deteriorating sensitive landscapes. Carli defended her thesis work August of 2019. Her thesis project examined the application of communication theory to design interpretive signs aimed at better protecting the threatened Western Snowy Plover at Oregon Dunes Recreation Area. Carli also worked on a project examining recreation use of and overlap with sensitive habitat used by threatened bird species in Orange County, CA.
Originally from Minnesota lake country, Carli received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. After graduating, she worked with environmental consulting firms in Minneapolis and Los Angeles doing environmental compliance, land use planning, wetland delineations, and GIS analyses. She also spent a short time working as a Soil Science Field Instructor here in Oregon at the Northwest Outdoor Science School. Between jobs, she made travel a priority and has spent time backpacking in India, Central America, and SE Asia. In seeing the different ways people around the world think about the environment, she was inspired to learn more about how conservation psychology can play a major role in solving global environmental issues. Working with Dr. D’Antonio, Carli’s research at OSU focused on human behavior and communication in outdoor recreation areas, specifically focusing on how to prevent people from deteriorating sensitive landscapes. Carli defended her thesis work August of 2019. Her thesis project examined the application of communication theory to design interpretive signs aimed at better protecting the threatened Western Snowy Plover at Oregon Dunes Recreation Area. Carli also worked on a project examining recreation use of and overlap with sensitive habitat used by threatened bird species in Orange County, CA.
Rosario Allende, Ph.D. student in Forest Ecosystems and Society
Rosario was born in Pennsylvania and lived around the east coast for a few years, then her family moved to Chile where she went to school and college. There she obtained bachelor degrees in Sustainable Agriculture and Forest Ecology from the Ponitifia Universidad Catolica de Chile, in Santiago. She worked in Chile for some time and then went to New Zealand to do field work at Scion Research, where she participated in different projects of silviculture, native woods and soils. Later, she moved to Oregon to look for opportunities to start grad school, she worked for a year doing a variety of things, from walking dogs, working at a flower farm, and selling vegetables at the farmers markets, to working for different professors of OSU in research projects like Salamander surveys, re-establishment of Douglas fir, and watershed data analysis.
In between all of this she traveled as much as possible and realized that little monitoring was being done in protected areas around the world, this made her want to learn more about ecological impacts caused by recreation. Her research focused on creating methodologies to monitor wildlife in protected areas. On her free time Rosario enjoys going on hikes with her dog, farming, eating vegetables.
Rosario was born in Pennsylvania and lived around the east coast for a few years, then her family moved to Chile where she went to school and college. There she obtained bachelor degrees in Sustainable Agriculture and Forest Ecology from the Ponitifia Universidad Catolica de Chile, in Santiago. She worked in Chile for some time and then went to New Zealand to do field work at Scion Research, where she participated in different projects of silviculture, native woods and soils. Later, she moved to Oregon to look for opportunities to start grad school, she worked for a year doing a variety of things, from walking dogs, working at a flower farm, and selling vegetables at the farmers markets, to working for different professors of OSU in research projects like Salamander surveys, re-establishment of Douglas fir, and watershed data analysis.
In between all of this she traveled as much as possible and realized that little monitoring was being done in protected areas around the world, this made her want to learn more about ecological impacts caused by recreation. Her research focused on creating methodologies to monitor wildlife in protected areas. On her free time Rosario enjoys going on hikes with her dog, farming, eating vegetables.
Zach Menegat, B.S. in Outdoor Recreation Management and GIS (2023)
From the small town of Creswell, Oregon, Zach grew up on 11 acres learning to stack cords of wood and work on a multitude of different vehicles his grandfather owned. Originally a Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences major, there was one key concept missing from his area of study that really interested him, recreational impacts. Captivated by the many different practices in the PNW, Zach quickly gained interest in anthropogenic impacts that recreation has on local ecosystems as well as the human behaviors that lead to social and ecological impacts. Zach’s passion for the outdoors and interest in recreation management practices lead him to stay in his home of the beautiful Willamette Valley at Oregon State University. At Oregon State, Zach studied Outdoor Recreation Management and Geographic Information Systems. His interests really peak in land management issues within parks and protected areas in the western United States. Zach recently started working for Montana Fish and Wildlife as an Access Resource Specialists.
From the small town of Creswell, Oregon, Zach grew up on 11 acres learning to stack cords of wood and work on a multitude of different vehicles his grandfather owned. Originally a Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences major, there was one key concept missing from his area of study that really interested him, recreational impacts. Captivated by the many different practices in the PNW, Zach quickly gained interest in anthropogenic impacts that recreation has on local ecosystems as well as the human behaviors that lead to social and ecological impacts. Zach’s passion for the outdoors and interest in recreation management practices lead him to stay in his home of the beautiful Willamette Valley at Oregon State University. At Oregon State, Zach studied Outdoor Recreation Management and Geographic Information Systems. His interests really peak in land management issues within parks and protected areas in the western United States. Zach recently started working for Montana Fish and Wildlife as an Access Resource Specialists.
Joshua Kesling, B.S. student in Natural Resources (2023)
Originally from a swath of natural areas in Cleveland, Ohio, and then the xeric systems of Salt Lake City, Utah, Joshua Kesling came to understand the importance and beauty of thriving nature for humans and wildlife. His passion carried him to the Willamette Valley, where he began investigating how humans interact with nearshore marine and freshwater systems. Joshua attained a degree in Natural Resources and centered his studies around freshwater and marine conservation ecology, which included recreation management and public policy solutions to complicated systemic issues. His honors thesis investigated urban-based stressors and levels of habitat connectivity of marine protected areas in OR, WA, and CA. The project followed the socio-marine-ecology discipline closely and combined marine and social science factors into an applied framework to engage decision-makers managing coastal interfaces. In the D’Antonio Lab, Josh spent his time at Minto Brown Park, which offers a network of ecosystems, ranging from rocky banks of the Willamette to Oak and Madrone uplands. The Minto Brown Island Park project sought to understand how recreationists and their activities might impact native and non-native turtle species composition, habitat quality, behavioral variation, and basking preferences. Currently Josh is pursuing an M.S. at Yale.
Originally from a swath of natural areas in Cleveland, Ohio, and then the xeric systems of Salt Lake City, Utah, Joshua Kesling came to understand the importance and beauty of thriving nature for humans and wildlife. His passion carried him to the Willamette Valley, where he began investigating how humans interact with nearshore marine and freshwater systems. Joshua attained a degree in Natural Resources and centered his studies around freshwater and marine conservation ecology, which included recreation management and public policy solutions to complicated systemic issues. His honors thesis investigated urban-based stressors and levels of habitat connectivity of marine protected areas in OR, WA, and CA. The project followed the socio-marine-ecology discipline closely and combined marine and social science factors into an applied framework to engage decision-makers managing coastal interfaces. In the D’Antonio Lab, Josh spent his time at Minto Brown Park, which offers a network of ecosystems, ranging from rocky banks of the Willamette to Oak and Madrone uplands. The Minto Brown Island Park project sought to understand how recreationists and their activities might impact native and non-native turtle species composition, habitat quality, behavioral variation, and basking preferences. Currently Josh is pursuing an M.S. at Yale.
Skyler Cristelli, B.S. student in Natural Resources (2023)
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Skyler grew up exploring the Pacific Northwest. Captivated by the wonders of the PNW, she quickly gained interest in learning how these ecosystems function and how humans impact the environment and why they participate in these behaviors. Skyler’s passion for the outdoors and learning more about human behavior brought her to the Willamette Valley to attend Oregon State University to pursue her undergraduate degree. At OSU, Skyler studied Natural Resources with an option in Education and a minor in Psychology. She centered her studies around environmental education and recreation management, with hopes to one day return to the Seattle area with goals to implement more environmental education and accessibility to urbanized communities. In the lab, Skyler assisted with multiple projects. First, she was the field lead on the Black Rock Mountain Biking Area project. Secondly, Skyler assisted with a project in Yosemite National Park examining wilderness use and monitoring. Lastly, she was involved with the Minto-Brown Island Park project. In Skyler’s free time, she loves to explore with her partner and dog Winston, their time is often spent hiking, backpacking, or mountain biking. Currently, Skyler is living in Bend, Oregon where she works for the Deschutes Trails Coalition.
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Skyler grew up exploring the Pacific Northwest. Captivated by the wonders of the PNW, she quickly gained interest in learning how these ecosystems function and how humans impact the environment and why they participate in these behaviors. Skyler’s passion for the outdoors and learning more about human behavior brought her to the Willamette Valley to attend Oregon State University to pursue her undergraduate degree. At OSU, Skyler studied Natural Resources with an option in Education and a minor in Psychology. She centered her studies around environmental education and recreation management, with hopes to one day return to the Seattle area with goals to implement more environmental education and accessibility to urbanized communities. In the lab, Skyler assisted with multiple projects. First, she was the field lead on the Black Rock Mountain Biking Area project. Secondly, Skyler assisted with a project in Yosemite National Park examining wilderness use and monitoring. Lastly, she was involved with the Minto-Brown Island Park project. In Skyler’s free time, she loves to explore with her partner and dog Winston, their time is often spent hiking, backpacking, or mountain biking. Currently, Skyler is living in Bend, Oregon where she works for the Deschutes Trails Coalition.
Hailey Light, B.S. Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership with an option in Sustainable Tourism Management (2020)
Hailey Light was an undergraduate student at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership. She is an Oregon native growing up outside of the Portland area. She got her love for the outdoors from the frequent backpacking, camping and rafting trips her and her family would go on in elementary and middle school. In high school, she studied abroad in Colombia and Argentina where she found a passion for language, culture and international travel. Hailey has experience in the active outdoor industry doing content and social media marketing as well as event coordination. She worked as an outdoor guide throughout her undergraduate career, frequently showing students of Oregon State University the beauty of Oregon’s backcountry. Hailey started working with Dr. Ashley D’Antonio on a citizen science photo project in Yellowstone doing data analysis in November of 2019 and was Dr. D’Antonio’s 2019/2020 mentee in OSU’s College of Forestry mentored employment program. Hailey has continued to work at OSU after graduation at both the Cascades and Corvallis campuses.
Hailey Light was an undergraduate student at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership. She is an Oregon native growing up outside of the Portland area. She got her love for the outdoors from the frequent backpacking, camping and rafting trips her and her family would go on in elementary and middle school. In high school, she studied abroad in Colombia and Argentina where she found a passion for language, culture and international travel. Hailey has experience in the active outdoor industry doing content and social media marketing as well as event coordination. She worked as an outdoor guide throughout her undergraduate career, frequently showing students of Oregon State University the beauty of Oregon’s backcountry. Hailey started working with Dr. Ashley D’Antonio on a citizen science photo project in Yellowstone doing data analysis in November of 2019 and was Dr. D’Antonio’s 2019/2020 mentee in OSU’s College of Forestry mentored employment program. Hailey has continued to work at OSU after graduation at both the Cascades and Corvallis campuses.
Maya Taylor-Dinubilo, B.S. Student in Natural Resources (2020), Mentored Employment Program
Born and raised in the Willamette Valley, Maya has spent most of her life admiring Oregon’s forests. She spends summers hiking, photographing native trees and shrubs, and generally enjoying the scenery. Maya earned an associate’s transfer degree from Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR, in 2016 with the intention to pursue forest conservation at Oregon State University. Once she started, however, she quickly realized that forests are dynamic, controversial things that require an interdisciplinary management approach. Since then, Maya has dedicated herself to better understanding ecology, recreation, timber management, and sociology. Right now, Maya worked part-time with Dr. D’Antionio as a participant in OSU’s Mentored Employment Program. Maya assisted with data-point reconstruction for a research project in Norway. Once completed, the study will analyze the impacts of recreation on berry bushes, an ecological and cultural resource, in Jotunheimen National Park.
Born and raised in the Willamette Valley, Maya has spent most of her life admiring Oregon’s forests. She spends summers hiking, photographing native trees and shrubs, and generally enjoying the scenery. Maya earned an associate’s transfer degree from Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR, in 2016 with the intention to pursue forest conservation at Oregon State University. Once she started, however, she quickly realized that forests are dynamic, controversial things that require an interdisciplinary management approach. Since then, Maya has dedicated herself to better understanding ecology, recreation, timber management, and sociology. Right now, Maya worked part-time with Dr. D’Antionio as a participant in OSU’s Mentored Employment Program. Maya assisted with data-point reconstruction for a research project in Norway. Once completed, the study will analyze the impacts of recreation on berry bushes, an ecological and cultural resource, in Jotunheimen National Park.
Allison Trox, B.S. Student in Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership
Allison grew up in Eugene Oregon, where family camping trips and visits to public lands around the state and country engendered a lifelong love of the outdoors. Having spent two summers working in Yellowstone National Park and frequent visits to Europe and the U.K., Allison is intrigued by both international and national approaches to outdoor recreation and land management. Allison increased her experience with recreation management and research through a position in the OSU Research Forest as a Recreation Field Assistant, and worked with Dr. D'Antonio on a citizen science photo project in Yellowstone doing data analysis. At OSU she pursed an undergraduate degree in Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership, with an option in Outdoor Recreation Management. In her free time, Allison enjoys trail running, knitting, and reading whatever she can get her hands on!
Allison grew up in Eugene Oregon, where family camping trips and visits to public lands around the state and country engendered a lifelong love of the outdoors. Having spent two summers working in Yellowstone National Park and frequent visits to Europe and the U.K., Allison is intrigued by both international and national approaches to outdoor recreation and land management. Allison increased her experience with recreation management and research through a position in the OSU Research Forest as a Recreation Field Assistant, and worked with Dr. D'Antonio on a citizen science photo project in Yellowstone doing data analysis. At OSU she pursed an undergraduate degree in Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership, with an option in Outdoor Recreation Management. In her free time, Allison enjoys trail running, knitting, and reading whatever she can get her hands on!
Morgan De Meyer, B.S. Student in Natural Resources (2017), Lab & Field Technician
Morgan earned her bachelors from Oregon State in Natural Resources with an emphasis on Recreation Resource Management. Her passion for the outdoors is derived from a lifetime of recreating with her family in the Deschutes National Forest. Morgan worked under Professor Barbara Lachenbruch researching the physiological responses of loblolly pine and Douglas-fir seedlings from varying provenances of drought stress. As well as another research project on the effects of stem disease on water transport in hazelnut trees. Morgan also working closely with Dr. D'Antonio doing data analysis on a research project based out of Norway, studying recreation-related use and disturbance at low and high use trails and cabins within Jotunheimen National Park. Morgan also worked alongside Jenna Baker on a 2-year study in Grand Tetons National Park, analyzing visitor use and impact at one of the park’s increasingly popular lakes. After graduation, Morgan was hired by the US Forest Service as an intern to assist with a national visitor use monitoring program.
Morgan earned her bachelors from Oregon State in Natural Resources with an emphasis on Recreation Resource Management. Her passion for the outdoors is derived from a lifetime of recreating with her family in the Deschutes National Forest. Morgan worked under Professor Barbara Lachenbruch researching the physiological responses of loblolly pine and Douglas-fir seedlings from varying provenances of drought stress. As well as another research project on the effects of stem disease on water transport in hazelnut trees. Morgan also working closely with Dr. D'Antonio doing data analysis on a research project based out of Norway, studying recreation-related use and disturbance at low and high use trails and cabins within Jotunheimen National Park. Morgan also worked alongside Jenna Baker on a 2-year study in Grand Tetons National Park, analyzing visitor use and impact at one of the park’s increasingly popular lakes. After graduation, Morgan was hired by the US Forest Service as an intern to assist with a national visitor use monitoring program.
Ian Redding, B.S. Student in Recreation Resource Management (2017), Lab Technician & Cartographer
Ian is originally from Buffalo, New York, but spent most of his childhood in Ohio and Indiana. After a few years in Florida, he moved to the mountains of California where he spent time in Yosemite and Tahoe. It was during his time in Yosemite that he discovered a passion for outdoor recreation. After seven months working at Grand Canyon National Park, Ian ended up in Portland, Oregon where he attended Portland Community College, earning an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree. Ian graduate with a degree in Recreation Resource Management and a certificate in GIS from Oregon State University in 2017.
Ian is originally from Buffalo, New York, but spent most of his childhood in Ohio and Indiana. After a few years in Florida, he moved to the mountains of California where he spent time in Yosemite and Tahoe. It was during his time in Yosemite that he discovered a passion for outdoor recreation. After seven months working at Grand Canyon National Park, Ian ended up in Portland, Oregon where he attended Portland Community College, earning an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree. Ian graduate with a degree in Recreation Resource Management and a certificate in GIS from Oregon State University in 2017.