Idaho Conservation Data Center
Staff Directory |
600 South Walnut, Box 25, Boise, ID 83707
Phone: 208.334.3402
Fax: 208.334.2114 |
| Administration |
Biodiversity |
Botany |
Zoology |
Ecosystems Assessment & Mapping |
Restoration & Wetlands Conservation |
Data Management & Services |
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Bill Bosworth, Zoology Program Leader
Bill oversees projects related to the conservation of Idaho's native fauna. His primary responsibilities are to design and implement studies of animal population status and to develop strategies to conserve rare or declining species at statewide and regional scales. Within this context, Bill is particularly drawn to the study of animals that are not traditionally the focus of resource management, such as invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and nongame mammals. He has a B.S. degree in Biology from Hope College and a M.S. degree in Biology from Idaho State University. Bill's extracurricular interests include music, outdoor sports, and travel.
Phone: 208.287.2733
Email: bbosworth@idfg.idaho.gov
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Kevin Church, Program Coordinator/Senior Scientist
Kevin is responsible for the overall management, administration, and development of the IDCDC. Previously, he worked as a wildlife biologist with a radio-telemetry company, research supervisor at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and upland program coordinator with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Kevin is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Boise State University where he teaches and works with graduate students. Kevin received a B.S. in Biology and Wildlife Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; a M.E.A.S. in Environmental Science at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; and Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. Kevin's professional interests include developing mechanisms for the application of science in biodiversity management and the international conservation of rare fauna, and his personal interests include exploring the backcountry, entertaining German short-hairs, and travel.
Phone: 208.287.2736
Email: kchurch@idfg.idaho.gov
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Beth Colket, Botanist/Plant Ecologist
Beth is responsible for implementing rare plant inventory and monitoring projects in southwestern Idaho, managing and analyzing ecological data, and writing reports to assist conservation planning. She has a B.A.I.S. in Biology and Spanish from George Mason University and a M.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management from the University of Idaho. Previously, Beth has worked as an ecologist with the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and as a biological technician with the National Park Service in Idaho and New Mexico. Her professional interests include the sagebrush ocean and its inhabitants, long-term vegetation trends, fire ecology, vegetation sampling methods, and GIS. Beth also enjoys backpacking, hiking, botanizing, camping, fishing, gardening, photography, and the ocean.
Phone: 208.287.2799
bcolket@idfg.idaho.gov
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Cyndi Coulter, Administrative Specialist for Activities and Projects (ASAP)
Cyndi handles administrative details for the Idaho Conservation Data Center and the Natural Resources Policy Bureau at Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game. Additional roles within the Conservation Data Center include editing and assistance with reports and field data, field work and vehicle management, GIS mapping and analysis, maintaining inventory and purchasing supplies, and special projects for the Natural Resources Policy Bureau. Cyndi holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in combined studies of Regional Botany, Geography, Writing, and Visual Arts. A Boise native who returned in 1991, she has been with the Idaho Conservation Data Center since 2000 and worked for the first five years within the ecology program. Interests include photography, writing, art, cooking, gardening, and enjoying nature.
Phone: 208.287.2732
Email: ccoulter@idfg.idaho.gov
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Rita Dixon, Biodiversity Program Leader
Rita is responsible for the integrity and development of the Biodiversity Program. Most recently, Rita worked as a regional nongame biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, taught ornithology at the University of Idaho, and conducted an avian inventory for the Nez Perce National Historical Park. Rita received a B.S. in Biology from the University of California at Riverside, a M.S. in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho, and is currently completing her Ph.D. at the University of Idaho, where she studied the ecology of White-headed Woodpeckers. Rita's professional interests include bat community ecology, modeling species distributions, the application of ecological methods to prioritize conservation planning, metapopulation biology, and critical thinking.
Phone: 208.287.2735
Email: rdixon@idfg.idaho.gov
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Karen Gray, Botanist
Karen Gray and Juanita Lichthardt comprise the Idaho CDC's northern Idaho botany staff. Karen's responsibilities include conducting rare plant surveys, plant monitoring, and report writing as necessary to fulfill the CDC's contractual obligations. Karen's previous experience included 12 seasons with the U. S. Forest Service and 4 seasons with The Nature Conservancy of Idaho. Karen obtained her B.S. degree in Botany from Montana State University at Bozeman, followed by graduate coursework at Montana State University. Karen's personal and professional interests include studying mosses, liverworts, and lichens. Other personal interests include weaving willow baskets and quilting.
Email: kgray@uidaho.edu
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Lisa Hahn, Botany Data Coordinator
Lisa conducts rare plant inventories and monitoring; wetland and riparian plant community classification and site inventories; data management (spatial and tabular) and analysis; report compilation and conservation planning. Lisa has a diverse background in vegetation studies, including previous work with Idaho Power in the Snake River Plains; the National Park Service in Grand Canyon, Arizona and Southeast Utah; Re-gap Analysis in northeast Nevada; and vegetation inventory, mapping and habitat studies in the Sonoran desert in both Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. Lisa has a B.S. degree in Biology and Public Administration and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, and has completed some graduate work. Lisa enjoys skiing, mountain biking, backpacking, photography, gardening, botanizing, bird watching, traveling, and live music.
Phone: 208-287-2796
Email: lhahn@idfg.idaho.gov
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Janice Hill, Botanist
Janice assists the northern Idaho CDC botany staff in conducting rare plant surveys, plant monitoring and report writing. Related work experience includes 10 years as Stewardship Ecologist for The Nature Conservancy of Idaho, the Stillinger Herbarium at the University of Idaho, Moscow, and ecological consulting. Janice has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biological Sciences from Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, and a Ph.D. degree in Forestry, Wildlife and Range from the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. Professional interests include Canyon and Palouse Grasslands. Personal interests include photography, camping, hiking, botanizing, rock-hounding, travel, gardening, playing music, house-remodeling, needlework and drawing.
Phone: 208.877.1179
Email: jhill@idfg.idaho.gov
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Lynn Kinter, Botany Program Leader
Lynn’s work focuses on development and interpretation of botanical information held by the Idaho Conservation Data Center and support of habitat and species conservation. While rare plants and native communities are central in her efforts, she also works on invasive species, particularly rush skeletonweed and cheatgrass. Her background includes teaching at Washington State University and Boise State University, writing popular science articles, and studying wildlife, including bighorn sheep and whooping cranes. Lynn has a B.S. in Wildland Recreation Management from University of Idaho, an M.S. in Botany from University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in Botany from Washington State University. In her free time, she enjoys country western dancing and deer and elk hunting.
Phone: 208.287.2734
Email: lkinter@idfg.idaho.gov
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Juanita Lichthardt, Plant Research Ecologist
Juanita and Karen Gray are the north Idaho contingent of the Idaho CDC's botany program. Juanita's job involves rare plant survey and monitoring; plant community monitoring and characterization; and conservation planning. Her background includes working for the Montana NHP on a community classification for northeastern MT; being a botanist-tech at Capitol Reef National Park, UT; and clipping productivity plots on reclaimed strip mines in eastern Wyoming. Juanita has a BA in Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MA in Biology from Montana State University, Bozeman. Juanita is interested in native plant landscaping and enjoys all the typical forms of non-motorized outdoor recreation--skiing, canoeing, hiking, biking, and botanizing.
Email: juanital@uidaho.edu
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Luana McCauley, Ecology Information Manager
Luana McCauley has been with IDCDC since 1999 as an Information Manager for plant communities, sites, and managed areas, which includes digitizing site and managed area boundaries. Luana also assists with field projects and surveys. Prior to 1999, Luana was in charge of aquatic macroinvertebrates taxonomy at the Idaho State Bureau of Laboratories. From Boise State University, Luana earned a BS in Biology in 1993 and a MA in Biology with emphasis in aquatic entomology in 2006. Luana’s interests include photography, traveling, art, and of course, bugs.
Phone: 208.287.2729
Email: lmccauley@idfg.idaho.gov
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Jennifer Miller, Research Ecologist
Jennifer conducts plant community inventories, classification, and monitoring; assists with rare plant inventories and monitoring; data management (spatial and tabular) and analysis; and report compilation. Prior to joining the Idaho Conservation Data Center, she worked for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, and the Agriculture Research Service. Jennifer holds a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Botany from Boise State University and has recently been taking graduate classes. She enjoys hiking, mountain biking, gardening, botanizing, live music, and traveling.
Phone: 208.287.2727
Email: jmiller@idfg.idaho.gov
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Stephanie Mitchell, Ecology Information Manager/Office Manager
Stephanie serves as IDCDC fiscal manager and as an information manager. She helps compile reports and makes maps from ArcView and ArcGIS for office staff. Stephanie developed and now maintains the IDCDC's fiscal management tracking system. Stephanie responds to data requests from environmental consultants, maintains and uses a data request invoicing system that she developed, and tracks monies associated with data requests. She earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho in 1996. Stephanie was employed by the IDCDC in the winter of 1997, and her responsibilities have grown. Her hobbies and interests include bird watching, wildflower walks, reading, movies, camping, going to the ocean, tide pools especially, needlepoint, and embroidery. She also enjoys learning about software, including GIS software, and how it might be useful for the IDCDC.
Phone: 208.287.2730
Email: smitchell@idfg.idaho.gov
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Chris Murphy, Restoration Program Leader
Chris conducts rare plant inventories and monitoring; wetland and riparian plant association classification and site inventories; sagebrush-steppe and upland vegetation and site inventories; and data compilation, analysis, and report writing. He has 10 years of botanical and ecological experience. For the last five years, he has been with the Conservation Data Center performing fieldwork throughout the state. Prior to the IDCDC, Chris surveyed vegetation, birds, and wildlife in the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and Hells Canyon. Chris has a B.S. degree in Environmental Science, with a Concentration in Ecosystem Processes and Analysis, from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. When not doing fieldwork, Chris enjoys gardening, backpacking, bird and wildflower watching, nature photography, listening to music, and telemark skiing.
Phone: 208.287.2728
Email: cmurphy@idfg.idaho.gov
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Suzin Romin, Biodiversity Program Biologist
Suzin’s responsibilities include developing an Early Detection/Rapid Response protocol for invasive plants in Idaho while also working on at-risk plant and animal projects. Prior to joining the Conservation Data Center, Suzin worked as a field biologist in the wilds of Upper Michigan, the Florida Keys, and the Mojave Desert. Most recently, she spent several years with the National Park Service, investigating relict leopard frog population dynamics and habitat requirements. Suzin received B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Biology from Northern Michigan University, and will occasionally admit to a background in molecular genetics. Her professional interests center on conservation biology. Suzin enjoys gardening, bee watching, frog watching, and exploring Idaho.
Phone: 208.287.2716
Email: sromin@idfg.idaho.gov
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Angie Schmidt, GIS Analyst
Angie provides the IDCDC staff with GIS technical support and training and works on a variety of GIS projects that complement the IDCDC's goals. Angie is also involved with database development and implementation. Previously, Angie worked as a GIS analyst at an engineering consulting firm and for Montana StreamNet, an information system within Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. She received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Montana State University, Bozeman, and received formal GIS training from ESRI as well as on-the-job GIS training with her former employers. Angie enjoys all outdoor activities with her family (especially backcountry telemark skiing), as well as growing herbs for homeopathy, gardening, wildlife watching, and quilting.
Phone: 208.287.2716
Email: aschmidt@idfg.idaho.gov
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George Stephens, At-Risk Species Data Manager
George processes vertebrate and invertebrate information, handles information requests from IDFG personnel, manages web pages, supervises the botany and zoology information managers, and secures annual funding for two data management positions including his own. He was hired by the Idaho Natural Heritage Program in 1989. George earned a Bachelor's degree in Zoology and a Master's degree in Entomology, both from the University of Wyoming. Nowadays, he finds himself with too many gray hairs; his days in the field and his entomological interests (butterflies, robberflies) are behind him. He enjoys (backyard) butterfly and bird watching and spending an increased amount of time with his cats and reptiles.
Phone: 208.287.2731
Email: gstephens@idfg.idaho.gov
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Leona Svancara, Spatial Ecologist
Leona joined the Conservation Data Center in December 2006 and is responsible for applying geospatial technologies to biodiversity conservation and land use planning efforts. Most recently, Leona worked as the spatial ecologist / data manager for the National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network Inventory and Monitoring program. Prior to that effort, she was the senior GIS analyst and lab manager for the Landscape Dynamics Lab at the University of Idaho where she also taught classes on GIS applications in the natural resources. Leona received a B.S. in Zoology and Marine Biology from Humboldt State University, a M.S. in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho, and is currently completing a Ph.D. at the University of Idaho on the ecological content and context of the National Park system. Leona’s professional interests center on the integration and application of geospatial technologies, spatial theory, and biogeography to the study and conservation of biodiversity across multiple spatial and temporal scales. In her spare time, she can usually be found with her dogs, husband, and son in the great outdoors – horseback riding, geocaching, or hunting and fishing.
Phone: 208.885.3774
Email: lsvancara.idfg.idaho.gov
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Nikki Wade, Zoology Data Coordinator
Nikki administers the Animal Conservation Database (ACD) which contains site-specific information on Idaho's at-risk vertebrate and invertebrate species. Nikki is also responsible for updates to the field structure and relationships of tables in the ACD, for query and retrieval of information from the ACD, and for database quality control. She assists with field work as needed. Nikki recently received a B.S. degree in Biology from Albertson College of Idaho. She plans to continue her education in graduate school when time allows. Nikki enjoys camping, swimming, volleyball, cooking, arts and crafts, and spending time with her three children.
Phone: 208.287.2797
Email: nwade@idfg.idaho.gov
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Tim Weekley, Zoology Technician
Tim assists with a number of zoology and ecology projects, including the Upper Snake River invertebrate survey, the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Non-game Database, and vegetation mapping and surveys. Previously, he conducted fuels monitoring for the Modoc National Forest Fire Ecology Program, sampled vegetation for the Boise National Forest, and worked for the Herpetology Lab at Idaho State University. Tim attended Idaho State University and received a B.S. in Natural Resources Ecology & Conservation Biology from the University of Idaho in 2001. His professional interests include conservation biology, landscape and fire ecology, ecological restoration, and environmental applications of GIS technology. For enjoyment, Tim can usually be found outdoors hiking, camping, fishing, gardening, on a mushroom foray, or wingshooting.
Phone: 208.287.2768
Email: tweekley@idfg.idaho.gov
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