Dr. Jessica Barnes (she/her)
National Bird Conservation Social Science Coordinator
Jessica Barnes was a Research Scientist and the National Bird Conservation Social Science Coordinator in the Dayer Lab from 2018-2022. She conducted research, shared resources, and built relationships in order to increase capacity within the bird conservation community to understand and address the human dimensions of bird and habitat conservation. She is now a National-level Social Scientist with the Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff of the US Forest Service. In that role, she provides guidance and training on the use of social science in the governance of the lands and resources of the National Forest System. Whether for birds or forests, Jessica’s work has focused on conducting engaged social science research with direct application to conservation practice and supporting the integration of social science theories and approaches into decision-making about natural resources.
Ashley Gramza (she/her)
National Bird Conservation Social Science Coordinator
Ashley Gramza was the National Bird Conservation Social Science Coordinator and Research Associate in the Dayer Lab from 2017-2018. After working in the Dayer Lab, she was Human Dimensions Specialist in the Research, Evaluation, and Compliance Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in Little Rock. She is now a Social Scientist for Playa Lakes Joint Venture.
Justin Beall (he/him)
Postdoctoral Associate
Justin was a postdoc in the Dayer lab from 2023 – 2025. During his time at Virginia Tech, he worked with an interdisciplinary team to develop and test a socio-ecological model of sea-level rise along the mid-Atlantic coastal region of the eastern United States. He examined how several factors (e.g., social and psychological) influence the decisions of coastal landowners in the face of sea-level rise (retreat, resist, or adapt). He is now working as a conservation social scientist at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
Bennett Grooms (he/him)
Ph.D Student
Bennett Grooms was a Ph.D. student in the Dayer Lab from 2017-2021. Bennett researched the perceptions, conservation behaviors, and interactions of wildlife recreationists relative to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). During his time at VT, Bennett was a fellow in the Interfaces of Global Change Interdisciplinary Graduate Experience Program, earned a certificate of Future Professoriate and Professional Development, and served as a board member of the Center for Communicating Science. The social science skills Bennett gained in the Dayer lab have broadened his world view on wildlife conservation, and he aspires to continue connecting people of all backgrounds to wildlife through his work.
Becca O’Brien (she/her)
Ph.D Student
Becca was a Ph.D. student in the Dayer Lab from 2018-2023. She studied the social and ecological aspects of hellbender conservation. During her time at VT, Becca was a fellow in the Interfaces of Global Change Interdisciplinary Graduate Experience Program. The skills she gained in the Dayer Lab have allowed her to effectively integrate social science and ecology into her work to address conservation concerns.
Emily Sinkular (she/her)
Ph.D Student
Emily joined the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab in the Spring of 2021 in Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Her research in the Dayer Lab focused on a multi-state study of wildlife viewers.
Carolyn Comber (she/her)
M.S. Student
Carolyn Comber was a Master’s student in the Dayer Lab from 2018-2021. Carolyn studied human disturbances to shorebirds with a focus on behavior change interventions such as community-based social marketing. During her time at VT, Carolyn participated in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Directorate Fellows Program (DFP). Now Carolyn works as a biological science technician at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The social science skills that Carolyn gained through her Master’s program have helped her to approach conservation challenges with a fresh perspective and will help her to thrive as a conservation scientist.
Lara Mengak (she/her)
M.S. Student
Lara Mengak was a Master’s student in the Dayer Lab from 2016-2018. While at Virginia Tech, she studied human disturbance and shorebird conservation with a focus on drafting management solutions for mitigating or reducing disturbance. After completing her M.S., she worked for The Ohio State University for a year as a research associate where she studied the human dimensions of public lands and protected areas management. Now employed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in their Division of Subsistence, she works with subsistence and Alaska Native communities on bird harvest management and emerging bird conservation issues.
Mary Sketch (she/her)
M.S. Student
Mary Sketch was a Masters student in the Dayer Lab from 2017 to 2019. While at Virginia Tech she studied the human dimensions of habitat conservation on western agricultural lands. After graduating, Mary worked with the Center for Rural Strategies where she works as a program associate, collaborating with rural leaders across the country on rural development and outreach. In 2021 she returned to Virginia Tech to become the Coordinator of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.
Rachael Green (she/her)
M.S. Student
Rachael Green was a M.S. student in the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab from 2020 – 2022. Her research focused on the human dimensions of private lands conservation. Specifically, she investigated how participation in a conservation research program on private lands influenced private landowners’ and citizen scientists’ conservation behaviours. Rachael is currently an intern with the Endangered Wildlife Trust at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. She is excited to carry her social science training into her future career to make her a better wildlife conservationist.
Seth Lutter (he/him)
M.S. Student
Seth Lutter was a Masters student in the Dayer Lab from 2016-2018. While at Virginia Tech he studied the human dimensions of early successional habitat conservation on private lands. He published research on landowner participation in conservation incentive programs, and the effects of outreach on landowners. Seth now works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where he provides expertise on the human dimensions of private lands conservation. His social science research experience is instrumental to his current work.
Milan Büscher (he/him)
Ph.D. Student | Visiting Researcher
Milan was a visiting researcher at the Dayer Lab and a Ph.D. student from the Osnabrück University in Germany. He holds a Research Master’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus on environmental psychology from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Milan’s Ph.D. project research focuses on understanding biodiversity conservation behaviors, with a particular emphasis on bird conservation. During his time in the Dayer Lab, Milan conducted an experiment to understand the effects of different observation techniques on beach walkers.
Dimaris Colón (she/her)
Human Dimensions Technician
Dimaris Colón worked as a technician in the Dayer Lab in the spring and summer of 2024 as a contract position with BirdsCaribbean and Virginia Tech. Her work focused on how human disturbance affects shorebirds at wetlands in the Caribbean, and using these insights to apply community-based social marketing (CBSM) in the Caribbean to reduce disturbance to shorebirds.
Jillian Everly (she/her)
Human Dimensions Technician
Jillian Everly worked as a technician in the Dayer Lab from January 2020- March 2021. Her work focused on shorebird disturbance. With the mentoring of both Dr. Dayer and Carolyn comber, Jillian interviewed managers and biologists and wrote a report on shorebird disturbance related to dogs on beaches. The experiences she gained while working in the Dayer Lab were instrumental in her acceptance at Idaho State University, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Conservation Anthropology. Her research is focused on interviewing biologists in Idaho about fisheries management and in Chile about the effects globalization of fisheries has had on the livelihoods of women.
Christy Pototsky (she/her)
Human Dimensions Technician
Christy graduated with a BSc in Ecology and Conservation from the University of St. Andrews in 2019. Between her undergraduate and Master’s degrees, she worked in practical conservation, including surveys for the Maryland-DC Breeding Bird Atlas, which ignited her passions for participatory science and ornithology. This experience inspired her Master’s research on the scientific and conservation planning impacts of citizen science ornithological atlases, and her later work in the Dayer Lab on Project FeederWatch.
Connor Rosenblatt (he/him)
Human Dimensions Technician
Connor Rosenblatt was a Human Dimensions Technician in the Dayer Lab in 2018. He worked on a research project examining the coupled human-natural system of birdfeeding. He is now a Masters student in Environmental Science at The Ohio State University.
Jonathan Rutter (he/him)
Human Dimensions Technician
Jonathan was a research technician in the Dayer Lab from 2018-2021. His research examined ethno-racial patterns in birdwatching and drivers of conservation behavior in wetlands. He has brought this human dimensions experience to his studies at the University of Oxford, where he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management.
Elizabeth Tsang (she/her)
Human Dimensions Technician
In summer 2019 Elizabeth Tsang was a human dimensions technician in the Dayer Lab through a Dept of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship. She conducted a stakeholder assessment of wildlife viewing stakeholders in Virginia using their websites. Currently, she is working as a Natural Resource Specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alamosa, Colorado. The writing skills and deeper understanding of the importance of social sciences in conservation she learned from her time in the Dayer Lab have been integral in her work with partners, the public, and policy related projects.
Kara Crudup (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kara Crudup was advised by Dr. Ashley Dayer as a Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) intern. Her research focused on the participation in federal conservation programs among ethno-racial, gender, and socio-economic groups. Specifically, she reviewed existing literature on participation in federal conservation programs and conducting a literature review, fact sheet, and webinar for agency staff.
Ali Davis (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ali Davis was an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Dayer Lab in 2017-2018. While at Virginia Tech, she double-majored in Wildlife Conservation and Forest Resource Management. Ali is now the state’s Nuisance Bear Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Her human dimensions skills come in handy when talking to landowners about nuisance bears.
Emelia Delaporte (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Emelia was an undergraduate researcher in the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab and is pursuing dual degrees in Multimedia Journalism and Professional and Technical Writing, with double minors in Natural Resources Recreation and Biodiversity Conservation. In Spring 2024, she worked under Sami Livingston on a survey analysis regarding dog-walker disturbance of shorebirds.
Hailey Draper (she/they)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hailey is an undergraduate student from Roanoke College. They joined the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab in Summer 2022 as a Summer Research Intern through the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP). The aim of her research was to produce a comprehensive literature review on minority participation within federal conservation programs.
Julianna Duran (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
In Spring 2020 Julianna was an undergraduate research assistant in the Dayer Lab. She conducted a Twitter Social Media Analysis of killer whale calf death that occurred a few years ago off of the Pacific Coast. The purpose of this project was to explore the connection between wildlife value orientations, anthropomorphism, and sad emotions in the public’s response to the event. Her career aspiration is to become a human dimensions professor to teach students the importance of this field and continue her own research.
Seth Finkel (he/him)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Seth Finkel completed an independent study with the Dayer Lab in 2019 on the human dimensions of no net loss conservation policy and their implications for grasslands conservation in the U.S. He is now a Master’s student at Michigan Technological University, where he researches using drones for wild turkey and ruffed grouse surveys. Seth’s time with the Dayer Lab was instrumental in developing his academic writing skills in preparation for graduate school.
Dyess Harp (they/she)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Dyess is an undergraduate student majoring in Wildlife Conservation. They joined the Dayer lab in the spring of 2022, where they focused on the literature about LGBTQ+ people and the outdoors.
Morgan Karns (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Morgan majored in Wildlife Conservation with a concentration in Human Dimensions. She joined the Dayer Lab in the summer of 2022 through the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) research program. Morgan assisted in the creation of state wildlife viewing state reports and works in conjunction with the non-profit organization Birdability to explore accessible wildlife viewing opportunities. Her other interests include environmental education, DEI and environmental justice, as well as marine ecosystems, amphibians, and reptiles.
Anna Klewicki (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Anna majored in Environmental Conservation and Society and Public Health at Virginia Tech. She joined the Dayer Lab in Fall 2020, where she helped to examine how much biodiversity conservation science has been done on public and private lands, and created a database of conservation research on private lands in the past twenty years. She is interested in outreach and stakeholder engagement, specifically best practices in getting people interested in and excited about conservation.
Ally Matheson (she/they)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mackenzi Mills (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mackenzi Mills joined the Lab in the Fall of 2020 as an undergraduate research assistant. She assisted Dr. Dayer in her research, consisting of data collection and conservation literature analysis to construct a manuscript. This manuscript examined the amount of community and social science done on private lands over the past 20 years.
Charlotte Moore (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Charlotte joined the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab in Summer 2022 as an intern through the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP). With the help of Dr. Dayer and Dr. Meyers, Charlotte will be studied collaborative research with Indigenous communities–specifically, the Monacan Nation.
Beth Mowry (she/they)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Beth Mowry joined the Dayer Lab in their senior year at Virginia Tech and graduated as a double major in Environmental Conservation and Geography. In the lab, Beth completed a research project on the accessibility of environmental conservation fieldwork and worked with the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative on their resource database.
Hannah Obershaw (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hannah was an undergraduate research assistant in 2020, working as part of a team assessing the extent and types of private lands research in conservation science publications.
Emma Pausley (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Emma Pausley majored in Wildlife Conservation with a focus on the Human Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. She joined the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab in the Spring of 2021. She assisted on multiple projects related to private lands conservation and the multi-state wildlife viewer study led by Dr. Dayer. Her interests lie predominantly in public outreach and the application of the social sciences for wildlife conservation.
Maggie Smith (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Maggie joined the Dayer Lab in Fall of 2020 and worked on assessing the proportion of conservation science conducted on private lands versus public lands. Broadly, her interests lie in ecology, behavior, international development, community based natural resource management, and one health initiatives.
Caitlin Watford (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
In Spring 2020, Caitlin Watford was a human dimension undergrad research assistant in the Dayer Lab. She conducted a social media analysis on Southern Resident Killer Whales where she studied the relationship between anthropomorphism and wildlife value orientations. Currently, she is working as an undergrad research assistant in the Hopkins lab where she is performing video analysis of hellbender reproductive behavior. Caitlin hopes to use her research experience from the Dayer Lab to continue to pursue her passion for conservation by understanding how people’s knowledge, values, and behaviors influence wildlife management and policy-making.
Jessica Willebeek-LeMair (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jessica Willebeek-LeMair joined the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program in the summer of 2022. She is a rising senior at Hollins University where she majors in Environmental Science. In the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab, Jessica assisted in preparing state reports with data obtained from wildlife viewer surveys and will present results at a research symposium at the end of the summer.