Our group works to foster an environment that is welcoming, supportive, and productive for people of diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that are underrepresented in ecology or STEM fields at large.   In doing so, we are committed to fostering a supportive community of excellence by consciously considering ways to improve approaches in teaching, research, mentoring, and service.  Importantly, we strive to have our research and teaching agenda be informed and shaped by a wide array of perspectives, objectives, and ways of knowing in conservation and natural resource management.

Active efforts of bolstering a more impactful and supportive community include: 1) promoting multiple ways of knowing, learning, and approaching problems in research and teaching, 2) actively seeking to work with and recruit individuals from a multitude of groups and promoting awareness of our program to a broader audience, 3) providing safe working environments as well as confidential and anonymous reporting for students and post-doctoral researchers with concerns, 4) promoting research, mentoring and leadership opportunities to multiple parties.