Jacobus (Jaap) de Roode is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Biology at Emory University, where he runs a research lab, and teaches courses on biology, evolution and infectious diseases. Most of de Roode’s research focuses on monarch butterflies and their parasites, and his work has shown that monarchs are experiencing ever increasing parasite prevalence. He received his M.S. from Wageningen University and his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. |
Shannon Trimboli is the founder and co-host of Backyard Ecology™. She has always loved nature and sharing that love of nature with others. She founded Backyard Ecology™ to help homeowners in the eastern U.S. create thriving backyard ecosystems that they can enjoy and be proud of. Her goal is to help them save time, money, and unnecessary frustrations while achieving their habitat goals.
In addition to co-hosting Backyard Ecology™, Shannon has published two books, owns a small native plant nursery, and offers on-site consulting for creating pollinator gardens or wildlife and pollinator habitat on a larger scale. She holds a Master’s degree in ecology from Western Kentucky University and a Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from Murray State University. |
Anthony Trimboli co-hosts Backyard Ecology™ and is the face of the Backyard Ecology™ YouTube channel. His interest in the outdoors started at an early age. He was always catching bugs, toads, turtles, and any other critter he could get his hands on. This lifelong interest in nature led him to pursue a degree in wildlife biology at Murray State University and later a master’s degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University.
He enjoys helping landowners meet their habitat management needs, whether they have a yard-sized property inside the city limits or a 1,000-acre property used mainly for deer and turkey hunting. Every time he steps in the woods his mind goes through this process – what is here, is this what should be here, and how can it be made better? |
Donna Gast is the daughter and granddaughter of two “master” gardeners, and has been playing in the dirt since childhood. She earned a bachelor’s degree in plant pathology along with master’s and specialist’s degrees in science education from the University of Georgia. As a science teacher Donna established pollinator gardens at Oconee County Middle School that focused on native plants. She was the 2014 Oconee County Schools Teacher of Year and recipient of University of Georgia’s 2017 David P. Butts Distinguished Contributions to Science Education Award. Currently, Donna is a MAG volunteer that works with the Symbolic Monarch Migration and other activities that promote preservation of pollinators. Donna is excited to share with you pollinator-supporting plants that grow in a variety of habitats at the beautiful State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
Jennifer Ceska is Public Service and Outreach Faculty at the University of Georgia and has served since 1995 as Conservation Coordinator in the Science & Conservation Program of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens. She received her master's at UGA in horticulture with an emphasis on plant conservation. Her specialty is creating project-driven professional networks and facilitating projects for endangered species recovery. She has consulted with 14 states in developing their conservation networks. Jennifer serves as project manager for the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, coordinating over 100 organizations contributing recovery actions to 114 critically imperiled plant species in Georgia. Professionals contribute intellectual, experiential, and physical resources from all areas of plant conservation from population genetics to conservation horticulture to habitat restoration for safeguarding ex situ and plant community resilience in situ.
|
Meg Hedeen is a biologist with US Fish and Wildlife’s Georgia Ecological Services Field Office located in Athens, GA. With the Service, Meg serves as both the Pollinator Coordinator and a Transportation Liaison working with federally protected and at-risk species. Like many, Meg has been drawn to the magic of monarch butterflies and first became involved with the species as an intern for New Jersey Audubon Society’s Monarch Monitoring Project in 1999. |
Amaad Blades, a native of New York City, works for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a Wildlife Technician. He grew up in McDonough, Ga and attended Georgia State University before transferring and graduating from the University of Georgia with his Bachelor’s in Ecology. In his current role he focuses on data management for terrestrial species from fungi to animals and everything in between as well as field surveys concerning invertebrates and botany-related work. He enjoys working with native species through conservation efforts such as safeguarding work, surveys, and prescribed burns among other things.
PHOTO: Amaad shows one of the fireflies caught in one of GA DNR surveys. |
Charlotte Hovland is an MS student working with Dr. Sonia Altizer at the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology. Prior to joining the lab in 2023, Charlotte completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago, where she studied disease and population dynamics in the Douglas Fir Tussock moth, and worked as a lab technician in an animal behavior lab at Rice University. At UGA, Charlotte studies the interactions between monarch butterfly disease ecology and variant migration behaviors. When not working, Charlotte enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her cat. |
Denise Wilson has a passion for pollinators. As an outreach ambassador for the Xerces Society, she brings scientific research on pollinator and habitat conservation to the public, engaging people of all ages in discovery and empowering them to protect the life that sustains us.
Denise is an environmental educator and Georgia Master Naturalist. She gives presentations and leads workshops, taking joy in sharing about our tiniest wild neighbors and how we can help them. Denise also advises on ecological home landscape practices, and she gets her hands in the soil volunteering for various habitat restoration projects and at Grow2B sustainable agriculture education farm, where she is an advisor. |
Environmental Education Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 801066 | Acworth, GA 30101 EEA does not does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program , activities, or employment. For more information on EEA's non-discrimination commitment click here . Grievance officer may be contacted at [email protected] |
Proudly powered by Weebly
|