Conservation, stewardship, and ecosystem services
Amy is a conservation biologist who uses landscape ecology and interdisciplinary approaches to guide conservation efforts. As both a researcher and practitioner, Amy draws from methods in field ecology, social sciences, community-based approaches, spatial analysis, and modeling to design and implement solutions for real-world conservation challenges. She is also committed to mentoring and training the next generation of scientists and leaders, especially those traditionally underrepresented in STEM and environmental careers. Amy was born and raised in Rockport, Texas, and owns Big Tree Oyster Company, a family-run oyster farm in Copano Bay. Much of Amy’s work aims to identify "win-win" solutions for people and nature.
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The Nature Conservancy where she currently serves as the Texas Science and Strategy Program Advisor for the Texas Chapter. Prior to this role, she served as the Austin Healthy Cities Program Director in The Nature Conservancy’s North America Cities Network.
St. Edward's University, where she held a joint appointment as a faculty associate for the Master's of Environmental Management and Sustainability program and Director of Research for the Wild Basin Creative Research Center
University of Illinois at Chicago, where she was a National Science Foundation IGERT fellow and received her PhD in Biology in 2014 as part of Emily Minor's Urban Ecosystems & Landscape Ecology Lab
Duke University and the Nicholas School of the Environment, where she received her Master's of Environmental Management in 2007
The University of Texas Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center where she was project coordinator & researcher for the Sustainable Sites Initiative 2007-2009
Rice University where she majored in Environmental Science/Engineering and Political Science in 2003