Lamis Behbehani

I received my B.Arch. (Hons) from University of Liverpool in 2001. Since then, I have obtained graduate degrees in Construction Management, Architecture, and Interior Design, and worked as an architectural assistant for 3 years in England and Kuwait. In addition, I became a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) in June 2009.

Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Ecological Sciences and Engineering’s interdisciplinary program with Dr. Prokopy as my major advisor. My research interests include human dimensions (i.e. attitudes and perceptions) of design, domestic architecture, and sustainability.

My other interests include taking care of my son, drawing (Pencil and Ink), painting (Guash), model making (real and animation), and traveling.

JoElla Jackson-Tyree

I received my undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2004, with an emphasis in geography.  Upon completion of my undergrad degree, I worked as an environmental specialist in Cherokee, NC, for nearly 3 years. My focus was primarily on air quality.

Nate Mullendore

I graduated with a BA in English from Wabash College in 2007. I then spent a year in the Puget Sound working with underserved youth through Americorps. Since then I've been the Watershed Projects Coordinator for Friends of Sugar Creek in Crawfordsville. I spend the majority of my spare time searching for smallmouth bass on Indiana's forgotten streams and creeks.

I'm a second-year master's student researching farmers' attitudes toward agricultural conservation. I'm especially interested in how people living in Midwestern agricultural landscapes view and shape their relationships to the land.

Kate Mulvaney

I received by B.S. in Marine Biology from Roger Williams University in 2002.  After graduating from college, I was a US Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines for three years working with a university as a coastal resource management volunteer.  After I finished my service, I went back to school for my M.A. in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island.  After finishing my Master’s, I worked in Washington, DC for the Department of State’s Office of Marine Conservation as a Knauss Fellow. 

Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Natural Resources Social Science with Dr. Prokopy as my major advisor.  My research interests include the human dimensions of fisheries, ocean and coastal management and ecosystem-based management.

 My other interests include going to fun places, the ocean and my dog, Mola.

I received a B.A. in Anthropology at the University of Michigan; however, I became interested in environmental studies during my junior and senior years.  So after college, I found work with the Student Conservation Association doing internships in habitat restoration, environmental education, and trail work.  In December of 2009, I finished my M.S. with the Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Program at Purdue.  While working on my master’s, I found that I was interested in the human dimensions of conservation practices on nontraditional farms.  I am now working on a PhD with this research area as my focus.    

My other interests include horse riding, running, hiking, yoga, and cooking with locally grown food.

Adam Reimer

I received a B.S. in wildlife at Purdue and two degrees from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a MSES and an MPA in Natural Resources and Environmental Policy.  After attending Purdue as an undergraduate, I was a member of Elkhart EnviroCorps, an AmeriCorps program in Elkhart Indiana focusing on community environmental education and engagement as well as natural areas restoration.

I am currently working on a PhD here at Purdue.  My primary research interests have to do with the people’s attitudes towards environmental policy and the way policy structure affects people’s willingness to take environmental action.

Amber Saylor

I received my B.S. in May of 2008 from Cornell University where I majored in Development Sociology and minored in Inequality Studies.  While I was an undergrad, I worked for two science labs studying ecology which helped to renew my fascination with nature and sustainability.  The Natural Resources Social Science Lab fits with my research interests very well, with a focus on understanding current behaviors and attitudes towards the environment.  I started working on my Master's at Purdue in January of 2009, and helped with a project to study the differences between people who get involved in public meetings about environmental issues in Indiana and those who do not.  My thesis research is focused on understanding the barriers and benefits to sustainable behavior on Purdue's campus and using Social Marketing to promote environmentally friendly behaviors--specifically, getting people to drink tap water instead of bottled water.

My other interests include: drawing and painting, watching movies, reading, horseback riding, and going to the dog park with my two dogs.

Patrick Woodson

I grew up in West Lafayette, where I spent several summers working on the Purdue farms.  Determined to not go to college in my hometown, I attended Indiana University, where I received a B.A. in History and Political Science with a focus on environmental policy. 

I currently am in my second year of an M.S. degree in Ecological Science and Engineering.  The interdisciplinary aspect of my degree has allowed me to simultaneously work in Agronomy and NRSS. After finishing my M.S. degree I will be moving to Africa with my wife, where we both will serve as US Peace Corps volunteers.

Following the Peace Corps I plan to buy a Newfoundland dog and that is all I have planned thus far.  My other interests/hobbies include traveling, cooking, brewing my own beer, playing music (guitar, mandolin, and banjo), seeing live music, and anything outdoors with my wife!

Do you want to be pictured here?

Please contact me for more information at lprokopy@purdue.edu or visit the Forestry and Natural Resources Prospective Graduate Student Site.

Adam Baumgart-Getz received his PhD from Purdue University in June 2009 after receiving his B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from The Pennsylvania State University in 1994, as well as an MSES in Water Resource Management and an MPA in Environmental Modeling from Indiana University in 2005.  His dissertation examined determinants of BMP maintenance.

Before returning to graduate school, Adam was a US Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic working on soil erosion prevention and sustainable agriculture and also worked as a community organizer on water issues in The Bronx.

He now works for the USGS as a geographer in New Orleans, LA, and is part of a multi-agency effort to restore the coastal wetlands.

Julie Crick’s Master’s Thesis examined motivations for conservation design in Northern Indiana.  Julie is now working for the San Bernardino National Forest Association coordinating a program aimed at education for forest landowners about the importance of management techniques in a fire prone ecosystem.

Kristin Floress received her Ph.D. at Purdue in August, 2008.  Her dissertation research addressed issues of social capital and leadership in Midwestern watershed groups.

She is now an assistant professor in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, where she teaches courses in natural resources communication and integrated resource management.

Alicia Malloy graduated with her M.S. in December of 2008 from this lab, and slipped nicely into employment that is directly related to her research interests and passion as the lab's Watershed Planning Specialist. Through her position, she helped increase the capacity of watershed groups in Indiana, whether it be through helping them collect social baseline data to inform their planning processes, planning public meetings to gather community input on water quality, or helping to evaluate field days and workshops groups have conducted.

Roshni Nuggehalli completed her Masters in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources in 2006. Roshni currently works as a Research Associate at IT for Change, a non-profit organization in India. IT for Change engages in debates on information and communication technologies (ICT) in development, to re-interpret the social and political narratives that are often sidelined or are altogether missing.

Roshni studies research frameworks within the IT for Change field project for empowerment of marginalized rural women through ICTs, and is engaged in developing measurement indicators for the project. She is also involved in a study on development led by telecentre initiatives from cases around India. Roshni likes to read, travel and write, in that order.

Aaron Thompson received a Ph.D. from Purdue University in 2010, as well as an M.S. in Natural Resource Planning in 2007.  On leaving Purdue, Aaron has joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin -- Stevens Point as an Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Planning.  His dissertation focused on using social data to inform collaborative action to address issues facing the rural landscape including farmland preservation, habitat loss, and greenway development.      

Denise Weinkauf completed her Masters in August 2008.  She received her B.S. degree from Winona State University in Minnesota in 2006, where her research focused on the effect of tourism development on surface water quality.

Denise works for Engineering Analytics, Inc., an engineering environmental consulting company that works on projects in forensic, water resources, environmental, and mining reclamation. Her job is to apply geologic principals and considerations to projects in all of these areas. Her job includes both office and field work to accomplish this task.

Originally from Montana, she enjoys hiking and camping in the mountains in her spare time.