Prior to joining IAE, Erin received her M.S. in Botany & Plant Pathology (2011) at Oregon State University, where she focused on plant ecology.  Her thesis research involved evaluating the invasion potential of forage kochia (Kochia prostrata), an exotic sub-shrub widely seeded for management purposes throughout western rangelands.   

Erin obtained a B.S. in Biology at University of Oregon in 2005.  Afterwards, she fell in love with Oregon’s east-side working for the USGS evaluating sagebrush steppe restoration techniques.  Erin then moved to southeast Alaska where she monitored understory vegetation for the Alternatives to Clearcutting study with the US Forest Service, and worked for NOAA and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game conducting fisheries research.  She has also conducted field research investigating effects of green-tree retention on understory vegetation in the central Washington Cascades.   She loves travel and prior to graduate school, went on a 6-month adventure exploring New Zealand and Southeast Asia with her husband. 

Outside of work, Erin enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.