Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas (she/they) is a first-year PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. As an Onʌyoteˀa•ká• (enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Turtle Clan) and Onöndowa:ga:’ (Tonawanda Seneca) researcher, Cheyenne centers Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the fields of Ecology, Evolution, and Entomology. Broadly, she is interested in how different land management strategies impact insect biodiversity. Her doctoral research will investigate the potential benefit of Good Fire (traditional uses of prescribed burning) on overall biodiversity of ground-dwelling insects as well as species and genetic diversity of ants. Through her work, Cheyenne wishes to highlight our non-human relations and insect kin in biodiversity contexts and emphasize the need for Indigenous-led conservation. She was one of three recipients of a 2024 FI Research Award.

Killian Yevtyeyev (he/they) is an undergraduate biology major at The Ohio State University. Yevtyeyev was the recipient of the 2024 joint fellowship from Field Inclusive and Cape Fear Bird Observatory where they helped with Painted Bunting (PABU) banding on public and private properties as well as help establish a point count and banding study on six sites from Wilmington to Sunset Beach. 

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Deandra Jones (she/her) identifies as Kinłichíí’nii, born for Ashįįhí (she is of the red house people and born for the salt people). Currently in the third year of pursuing a Ph.D. in wildlife conservation and management at the University of Arizona, her research centers on the black bear population within the Navajo Nation. Her work aims to estimate the black bear population, mitigate increasing human-bear conflicts, and interweave Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from Navajo culture with scientific understanding of this species. Bears hold deep spiritual significance in Navajo beliefs, and Jones is dedicated to passing down this Traditional Knowledge to future generations. Her research blends ecological study with cultural heritage while providing important data to support local wildlife management and community safety efforts. She was one of two recipients of a 2024 FI Fall Travel Award.

Hannah Clipp (she/her) is currently working in a postdoctoral position with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station. She is collaborating with scientists from the Landscape Change Research Group to conduct research on climate change impacts on birds and forest pests. Clipp graduated last year with a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Science from West Virginia University, where she worked with the West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Her dissertation research focused on long-term responses in bird communities and abundance to forest management and climate change in the Appalachian Mountains. She was one of two recipients of a 2024 FI Fall Travel Award.

Lauren D. Pharr (she/her) is an avian ecologist and Ph.D. Candidate at North Carolina State University (NCSU) pursuing her degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Her current research focuses on studying the effects of climate change on nestling success in the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Aside from her research, she is an engaged science communicator and serves as a contributing editor for North Carolina Sea Grant, and is also a member on the Editorial Advisory Board for The Wildlife Society. Lauren is also an advocate for Black and historically excluded minorities in STEM; she serves on multiple committees including NCSU’s Forestry and Environmental Resources’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and The Longleaf Alliance’s Longleaf for All committee, and she is the CFO and co-founder of Field Inclusive.

R Babb (they/them) transferred from community college to earn a BA in Biology from North Carolina State University. Their interdisciplinary academic experiences focused on citizen science and informal science communication, with a personal emphasis on creating more inclusive spaces and elevating diverse perspectives on campus and beyond, including co-creating a LGBTQ+ in STEM podcast. Following graduation, R worked in public science events at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences through AmeriCorps, and continues to work and volunteer there. They recently began as a part-time research assistant at NCSU helping on various qualitative research projects. R is also an artist, creating digital comics with commissioned works featured locally and nationally. After attending Beginning Birders Programs in fall 2023, they now regularly volunteer for FI and are exploring renewed interest in all things “outdoorsy” through the lens of participatory technology.You can learn more about R by checking out their podcast or art portfolio.

Kayla Stukes (she/her) is recent graduate of North Carolina State University (July 2023). She received her master’s degree in Forestry, with her minor in Human Dimensions. Her research encompassed environmental justice with a focus on marginalized communities and the suppressed participation in conservation programs of several racial minority demographics. Kayla is an avid environmental justice activist, eager to assist in the bridging of the nature gap by applying past experience and knowledge obtained through her research to support the foundation of environmental inclusivity through Field Inclusive. Outside of academia, she is an avid kayaker and birder, who often spends her time practicing self-employed Dendrology, fascinated by the plant/tree species of the state. AT FI, Kayla assists with scheduling our programs, and more.

Kelsey Jennings (she/they) is a PhD student in the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab at Virginia Tech, where they study the human dimensions of wildlife conservation, equitable conservation initiatives, and sustainable conservation from human perspectives. She works with the National Audubon Society and the US Forest Service to explore sustainable maple syrup production, focusing on supporting underserved private landowners and bird conservation. Kelsey holds a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Virginia Tech. Their previous research encompasses diversity, equity, and inclusion; participatory science; and support for state fish and wildlife agencies. She has worked as an environmental educator, bird trainer, and outreach specialist to increase access pathways to conservation and outdoor recreation for all.

Dyess Harp (she/her) has worked in fieldwork in the Americas and Europe to study animal behavior, disease ecology, and conservation. Fascinated by wildlife and driven to solve their problems, in these spaces, she works to help make ecology more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. She hopes to continue to find solutions to ecological problems in ways that conserve ecosystems and improve the lives of the people who interact with them as a Fulbrighter to Chile this year.

Byron Levan (he/him) works as an environmental consultant with a special focus in rare flora, fauna, and associated natural communities of the southeastern United States and beyond. He has worked in several positions involving natural resource education, research, and data collection. Byron co-authored “The Forest that Fire Made, An Introduction to the Longleaf Pine Forest” published in 2023 through University of Georgia Press. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Ariel Chasen (she/her) is a PhD candidate at UT Austin in STEM education with a master’s in ecology, evolution, and behavior. Before diving into her doctoral studies, she spent six years as a high school biology teacher. She now researches disability in laboratory and fieldwork settings, driven by her personal experiences as someone who is deaf/hard of hearing. As a deaf scientist, she has seen first hand how research and learning environments are not built for disabled folks. She also collaborates with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where they work on making ecology and fieldwork more inclusive and accessible. When she’s not deep into research, you’ll probably find Ariel curled up with a fantasy novel, her staffy pup Valkyrie, and a cup of tea.

Kelsey Byers (any/all pronouns) is a Group Leader at the John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich, where her lab studies how floral scent attracts animal pollinators like bumblebees and moths and how this leads to the evolution of flowering plant species. Kelsey is the co-founder of the JIC Accessibility Advocates group and has served on DEI committees for institutions and professional societies in multiple institutions in several countries. She is a tireless – though often very tired! – advocate for diversity in STEM fields, especially around the issue of inclusion of disabled folks in biology and in fieldwork in particular. In her spare time she enjoys knitting and birdwatching.

Parker Hughes (he/him) is a third year PhD student studying ecology and evolutionary biology at NC State under Dr. Brian Langerhans. He specifically studies the evolution of the visual system, and is currently interested in fish eyes! He really enjoys his research and has been able to present at conferences such as Evolution, The 11th International Conference of Poeciliid Biologists, and The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. In his free time, he loves getting outdoors and watching football. 

J. Drew Lanham (he/him) is an ornithologist, naturalist, writer, and poet combining conservation science with personal, historical, and cultural narratives of nature. Lanham’s research and teaching focuses on the impacts of forest management on birds and other wildlife. He brings this ecological knowledge as well as his perspective as a Black man living in the South to bear on his work as a storyteller, poet, and passionate advocate for bird-watching, outdoor recreation, and environmental conservation and stewardship. In his 2016 book, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, Lanham traces his love of birds and nature back to his family’s small farm in rural South Carolina. His lyrical descriptions of childhood explorations around the farm are a hallmark of Lanham’s conservation ethos: the head to heart connection.

Matthew Morgan (he/him) is an environmental educator at a local nature center in the Charlotte, NC area and has always had an interest in wildlife since childhood. In his current position, he provides environmental education programming for all audiences, which include homeschool classes, trainings, and bird walks. In his professional life as well as personal, he’s led bird hikes for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Concord Wildlife Alliance, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, and Outdoor Afro. Although he is very passionate about birding, he is also very dedicated to exposing African Americans to the outdoors and combating the stereotypes surrounding minorities/people of color in outdoor spaces. Between his Nature Series, leading bird hikes, and his four-week summer camp exposing at-risk youth to greenspaces, he truly enjoy what he does and being a champion for change.