Morgan Franke
Plant Materials Program Coordinator
541-753-3099 x 708
[email protected]
Morgan is the Plant Materials Coordinator for IAE’s Plant Materials Program, where she manages and coordinates seed collection and plant materials related projects to support the conservation, restoration, and recovery of rare plants and habitats throughout Oregon and beyond. She is excited and motivated by being a part of the process of bridging the gap between the restoration of critical habitats with the need for ecologically and genetically appropriate native seed.
Morgan received a B.S in Biology from Sweet Briar College, and a M.Sc. from Virginia Tech. Her master’s thesis focused on invasive plant species impacts on reforestation of surface coal mine sites to inform better management and restoration practices. Prior to joining IAE, she was the native plant project director for a non-profit in Appalachia, responsible for seed collections, propagation, and coordinating partnerships with government, academic, and other non-profit organizations to further habitat restoration in the region. Throughout her career, Morgan has worked for multiple academic institutions, field stations, and non-profits leading and participating in ecological research, conservation, and habitat restoration projects in the US and the Mariana Islands.
Outside of work, you can find Morgan spending time with her two pups and husband. She loves exploring Oregon through her favorite activities: hiking and foraging, paddling on any body of water she can find, and starting more crafting projects than she has finished.