Prairies, birds, playas, landscape ecology, food and the people who grow food, applying science to conservation, and doing conservation in working landscapes — these are just some of Anne’s interests, which were combined when she joined PLJV in 2008.
During her postdoctoral research at Oregon State University’s Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, she became interested in career opportunities that supported conservation on working lands, farms, ranches, logging operations, and other places where people derive income from the land. This type of conservation work is at the core of PLJV’s mission and is one of the most rewarding things about working at the joint venture.
Anne appreciates the variety that comes with her position at PLJV and how she is involved in many different types of science. As the Conservation Science Director, Anne works to understand the latest science relevant to PLJVs work and then translates it to inform conservation planning, conservation delivery and communications, which is often used to answer questions from partners and agricultural producers. She also works with a network of scientists who are conducting research within the region and designs and implements IMBCR for PLJV studies that address management questions from partners.
No matter what, this job will never be as hard as her very first job — vegetable farming with her family growing up in Michigan.