Service and Outreach
Outside of my PhD research I am involved in several organizations and outreach events throughout the year. Here is a snapshot of the this year's work so far, and upcoming events! For a full list of outreach and service I am involved in, please see my CV.
Vernal Pool Recovery Implementation Team
with the Department of Fish and Wildlife
Since November 2024, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has resurrected the Recovery Implementation Team, aimed at bringing together agency, non-profit, academics, and consultants to work together on protecting vernal pool habitats throughout California. We currently have 5 regional working groups. I have served as Chairperson of the Recovery Implementation Team since 2024, which oversees and helps guide the regional working groups to achieving their conservation goals. I'm also involved in the San Joaquin Valley regional working group.
Recovery Implementation Team, in order from left to right: Dr. Jamie Kneitel (CSU Sacramento), Lynn Breithaupt (UC Merced), Carol Witham, Matt Gause (Westervelt Consulting), Jennifer Buck-Diaz (CNPS), Russell Huddleston (EPA), Ian Perkins-Taylor (CDFW), Eric Smith, Raffica La Rosa (CDFW), Robert Douglas Stone (CNPS), and Joe Morgan (EPA). Not shown and part of the team are Dr. Jason Sexton (UCM), and Sam Friedman (DFWS)
San Joaquin Valley Regional Working group, visiting the Merced Vernal Pool and Grassland Reserve
UC Merced Reserve Stewardship and Pollinator garden
In March 2026 the Central Sierra California Native Plant Society (CNPS) chapter was awarded a grant to build a pollinator garden next to the Merced Vernal Pool and Grassland Reserve new research center. In collaboration with the San Joaquin Valley CNPS chapter, the Xerces society, and UCM Bee Campus, we will be collaboratively working together to plant a sustainable, native plant garden to represent the biodiversity in the reserve and provide resources for native bees in our region.
In March and April, I led a series of seed collection days to begin building resources for the garden (see photos below)
April 2026, seed collecting of endemic vernal pool plant species at the MVPGR to gather resources for the eventual pollinator garden.
Undergraduate students learning stewardship by collecting plant seeds for the pollinator garden.
Student Naturalist Training at UC Merced
Student Naturalist if a 4 unit course taught at UC Merced to provide students the opportunity to explore different pathways in field research. Every week a different person will teach a class related to their research or career. For two years now I have taught a class on plant biodiversity, and herbarium curation.
Undergraduate students learning how plant biodiversity is shaped by ecosystem variables, and how to collect and curate such biodiversity for herbariums.