Leadership & Governance

Current Officers

• Chair: Angela Burrow

  Angela is an assistant professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Her research focuses broadly on the interactions between natural dynamic processes (e.g., fire, flooding, succession), human-driven disturbance, and natural resource conservation & management (e.g., herpetofauna) within wetlands and the terrestrial environments in which they function. As a wildlife ecologist, she uses a multiple stressor lens to investigate the impact of environmental change and other stressors on wetlands and wetland associated wildlife. A critical part of her work is evaluating the effectiveness of restoration and management actions to support the resilience of herpetofauna and their wetland habitats. Working closely with stakeholders including state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and local communities to develop, produce and share research findings is important to her.

• Chair-elect: Amber Pippin, AWB®

  HI! My name is Amber Pippin! I am an Associate Wildlife Biologist®, certified through TWS since 2020. Since graduating from Texas State University in April 2020, I have been working for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, holding many titles. I have a passion for birds, bird surveying and banding in particular, but also have a deep passion for Habitat Restoration. My interests have led me to the HRWG, and I now hold the Chair-Elect position for the WG. I am excited to hold this position and hope to impact current habitat conservation and restoration efforts.

• Past Chair: Robert Magill

  Robert has over 30 years of experience working on wildlife conservation. His experience is wide ranging; he has worked for state agencies at the program manager level, with private companies as a senior biologist, and with nonprofit organizations serving as a biologist and supervisor. He also formed his own business, operating as a contracting biologist. Robert’s goals for the working group are to continue growing its visibility and an active presence in TWS. Simultaneously, Robert will continue pressing for the incorporation of the newest wildlife and restoration science such as the Resist-Accept-Direct framework. He seeks to elevate the role of science over politics and serve as an advocate for sound, science-based management choices. Additionally, Robert seeks to position the Habitat Restoration Working Group as the preeminent leader for all TWS working groups.

• Secretary-Treasurer: Open
• Communications Committee Chair: Alexander Hoxie

  Alex received his B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a concentration in conservation and restoration ecology in 2022. While there, he served as the president of the student TWS chapter for 2 years. Currently, he is a master’s student at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, with his thesis research focusing on the abundance of microplastics in nestling house sparrows. After his master’s, he plans on pursuing his PhD, continuing to research avian ecology, where he hopes to incorporate his passions for bird conservation and restoration. Alex believes that effective communication is central to the mission of the HRWG and TWS as a whole. He is looking forward to his role in engaging with the members of the HRWG and developing our community.

  

• Member At-Large: Adam Mitchell, PhD, CWB®

  Adam Mitchell, PhD, CWB®, is an Assistant Professor of Entomology at Tarleton State University, where his research lab explores how anthropogenic changes in the environment influence ecosystem structure and function, using plants and invertebrates as model taxa. Adam’s past experience has focused on restoring native plant, arthropod, and bird communities following plant invasion in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as providing guidance on promoting wildlife-friendly habitat for private landowners in urban settings. As a member of the working group, Adam seeks to assist in promoting the role of TWS in driving ecological restoration policy and management through contemporary research and scientifically sound practice. Furthermore, he is interested in fostering collaborations with landowners, non-profits, and other professional societies to encourage greater synergy in conservation efforts.

  

• Member At-Large: Derrick Lindsay, AWB®

  Derrick is the Stewardship Coordinator with Kentucky Natural Lands Trust providing land management by protecting, connecting, and restoring wildlands in eastern Kentucky since 2016. Derrick holds a M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management (concentration in Fish and Wildlife Management) from American Public University and B.S. in Biology from Lincoln Memorial University. Derrick has been an active member of The Wildlife Society and the Kentucky chapter since 2016 and is an Associate Wildlife Biologist®.