Michelle Lynn Brown 44 Maryland Ave, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (518) 524-0468 Michelle.L.Brown@uvm.edu EDUCATION University of Vermont, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit PhD, Natural Resources Dissertation: Effects of Forest Biomass Energy Production on Northern Forest Sustainability and Biodiversity Ongoing University of Vermont, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit 2012 MS, Natural Resources Thesis: Predicting Impacts of Future Human Population Growth and Development on Occupancy Rates and Landscape Carrying Capacity of Forest-Dependent Birds Penn State University, Graduate GIS Certificate 2005 Binghamton University, State University of New York 2001 BS, Environmental Studies Concentration in Ecosystems, Magna Cum Laude TEACHING EXPERIENCE Instructor, Population Dynamics and Modeling, University of Vermont 2014 Co-taught 30 graduate students and federal employees using a live online format Graduate Teaching Program Ongoing Completed more than 50 hours of mentored teaching, observations, and workshops PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Conservation Scientist The Nature Conservancy, Adirondack Chapter 2007- Keene Valley, NY Led regional team to integrate climate resilience into transportation infrastructure design (five states and three provinces) Secured more than $1,200,000 to incorporate conservation objectives into New York State transportation planning and implementation; managed projects Led ecological assessment and science strategy for 161,000-acre land protection project Conservation Planner The Nature Conservancy, Central & Western NY Chapter 2005-2007 Rochester, New York Project manager for Upper Allegheny River project; developed a spatial conservation blueprint and common conservation strategies for the watershed with 40 partners Created and organized first Allegheny Biodiversity Symposium, a scientific meeting for researchers and natural resource practitioners in the Allegheny Basin
Conservation Science Assistant The Nature Conservancy, Eastern New York Chapter 2002-2005 Troy, New York Co-led a High Allegheny Plateau team implementing conservation measures Managed databases, produced reports, developed conceptual models, indicators, and indicator ratings for conservation targets Conservation Assistant The Nature Conservancy, Eastern New York Chapter Oct. 2001-Aug. 2002 New Paltz, New York Developed restoration plans; designed native seed collection and monitoring programs, including rare plant surveys, vegetation transect sampling, invasive species mapping and removal Authored fire management and prescribed burn plan for Nellie Hill Nature Preserve Conservation Intern The Nature Conservancy, Eastern New York Chapter June 2001-Oct. 2001 New Paltz, New York Collected field data including longitudinal profiles, channel cross sections, flow velocities, pebble counts, mussel surveys, and natural community inventory Independent Research Project Binghamton University Jan. 2001-May 2001 Senior project: Dendroecology of Quercus rubra across contrasting sites in Binghamton, New York Wrote grant proposal and received an undergraduate research award to support project Natural Resource Management Program Students for International Training Aug. 2000-Dec. 2000 Byron Bay, Australia Designed restoration ecology research project; Dry rainforest restoration: an economic analysis of planting methods in Brisbane Forest Park, Queensland, Australia Collected and analyzed field data and published findings in local newsletters Environmental Internship MacArther Elementary School Jan. 2001-May 2001 Developed and implemented environmental science curriculum Volunteer at Greenhouse Sept. 1999-May 2001 Transplanted and propagated various plant species Binghamton University Environmental Internship Waterman Conservation Center Sept. 1999-Dec. 1999 Designed and constructed displays for center and outdoor trails Led environmental education programs for children
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS Brown, M.L., T.M. Donovan, G.M. Warrington, W.S. Schwenk, and D.M. Theobald. Predicting effects of future human population growth and development on a territorial forest songbird: small declines in occupancy equate to large declines in landscape carrying capacity. Biological Conservation. In review. Brown, M.L., T.M. Donovan, W.S. Schwenk, and D.M. Theobald. 2014. Predicting impacts of future human population growth and development on occupancy rates of forest-dependent birds. Biological Conservation. Available online: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0006320713002711. BOOK CHAPTER Karieva, P, T.H. Tear, S. Solie, M.L. Brown, L. Sotomayor, and C. Yuan-Farrell (2005). Can NGO s fill gaps in the Endangered Species Act? In D.D. Goble, J.M. Scott, and F.W. Davis, eds. The Endangered Species Act at 30: Renewing the Conservation Promise, Vol. 1. Island Press, Washington, D.C. PRESENTATIONS Brown, M.L., T.M. Donovan, G.M. Warrington, W.S. Schwenk, and D.M. Theobald. 2014. Predicting effects of future human population growth and development on a territorial forest songbird: small declines in occupancy equate to large declines in landscape carrying capacity. Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference. Portland, ME. Brown, M.L., T.M. Donovan, W.S. Schwenk, and D.M. Theobald. 2014. Predicting impacts of future population growth and development on forest-dependent birds. Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference. Portland, ME. Cole, W., T. Donovan, M.L. Brown, and J. Murdoch. 2014. Effects of landscape development on bobcat carrying capacity in Vermont. Vermont Monitoring Cooperative and Mt. Mansfield Science and Stewardship Conference. Burlington, VT. Brown, M.L., J. Levine, C. Miller, T. Mihuc. 2013. Linking fish passage, economic and social benefits, and climate change: a pilot project in the Lake Champlain Basin. Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY. Brown, M.L., C. Cheeseman, and A. Peck. 2013. Identifying and inventorying important barriers in the Hudson River Estuary. New Paltz, NY. Brown, M.L. and B. Haselton. 2011. Incorporating freshwater biodiversity into New York State transportation planning. International Conference on Ecology and Transportation. Seattle, WA. Brown, M.L. and B. Haselton. 2011. Incorporating freshwater biodiversity into New York State transportation planning. New York State Wetlands Forum. Lake Placid, NY.
Brown, M.L., B. Haselton, C. Cheeseman, T. Howard. 2011. Incorporating freshwater biodiversity into New York State transportation planning. Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference. Manchester, NH. Brown, M.L. and C. Cheeseman. 2009. Using species to identify conservation priorities in the Black River Valley. Adirondack Research Consortium. Lake Placid, NY. Brown, M.L. 2008. Research and monitoring needs in the Adirondack Mountains, NY. Adirondack Research Forum. Old Forge, NY. Brown, M.L., and K. Seleen. 2006. Applying the coarse filter/ fine filter approach in Conservation Action Planning. The Nature Conservancy Science in Practice Conference. Tucson, AZ. Brown, M.L., and T. Tear. 2004. Meeting regional goals through conservation area planning: setting priorities in Southern Lake Champlain Valley. Poster Presentation. Annual Meeting of the Society of Conservation Biology. New York, NY. Brown, M.L., B. Stratton, T.H. Tear, and K. Seleen. 2004. Evaluating connectivity between landscapes through the eyes of wide-ranging mammals. Poster presentation. The Northeast Natural History Conference VIII. Albany, NY. REPORTS (NOT PEER-REVIEWED) Brown, M.L. and C. Cheeseman. 2013. Identification of biologically important barriers in the Hudson River Estuary. Final report prepared for the New York State Department of Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program. New Paltz, NY. Miller, C., M.L. Brown. 2012. Fish passage and connectivity in the Ausable Watershed using GIS prioritization and field assessment tools. Final report prepared for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Grand Isle, VT. Brown, M.L. and B. Haselton. 2011. Incorporating aquatic Species of Greatest Conservation Need requirements and conservation objectives into New York State transportation planning. The Nature Conservancy. Keene Valley, NY. Brown, M.L. Adirondack to Tug Hill connectivity. 2010. Final report prepared for the New York State Biodiversity Research Institute. Albany, NY. Brown, M.L. Langley Park rapid ecological assessment. 2009. The Nature Conservancy. Keene Valley, NY. Tear, T. and M.L. Brown. 2004. High Allegheny Plateau ecoregional measures progress report. The Nature Conservancy. Troy, NY.
GRANTS Ausable watershed priority culvert upgrade projects. Brown (PI). National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resilience Competitive Grants Program. $620,000. Building climate resilience in the Lake Champlain Basin: restoring freshwater connectivity through infrastructure redesign. Brown (PI). Wildlife Conservation Society, Climate Adaptation Fund. $225,000. Climate vulnerability and economic assessment for at-risk transportation infrastructure in the Lake Champlain Basin, New York. Brown (Co-PI). Federal Highway Administration, Climate Adaptation Pilot Program. $223,000. Effects of forest biomass energy production on northern forest wildlife and forest sustainability. Brown (PI Ph.D. student). Northeastern States Research Cooperative, Theme 1. $129,810. Predicting impacts of future human population growth on the landscape carrying capacity for forest-dependent species. Brown (PI MS student). Northeastern States Research Cooperative Graduate Student Competition, Theme 4. $10,000. Identification of biologically important barriers in the Hudson River Estuary. Brown (PI). New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. $70,000. Fish passage and connectivity in the Ausable Watershed using field assessment tools and GIS prioritization. Brown (Co-PI). Lake Champlain Basin Program. $46,000. Evaluating a working forest: integrating monitoring of the former Finch, Pruyn lands. Brown (Co-PI). Northeastern States Research Cooperative, Theme 1. $128,855. Incorporating freshwater biodiversity into New York State transportation planning. Brown (PI). New York State Wildlife Grants. $99,100. INVITED TALKS AND LECTURES Brown, M.L. 2014 and 2015. Protected areas in theory and practice. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. Brown, M.L. 2013. The role of structured decision making in conservation: a case study in the Adirondacks. Yale University, New Haven, CT. Brown, M.L., and J. Levine. 2012. Resilient natural systems and resilient human systems: how culverts can help. Lake Champlain Basin Program Flood Resilience Technical Workshop, Plattsburgh, NY. Brown, M.L. 2009. Conservation science and practice in the Adirondacks. Paul Smith s College, Paul Smiths, NY. Brown, M.L. 2007. Conserving biodiversity: using science to identify strategies in New York State. Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY.
SERVICES Abstract review for the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, 2011, 2013 Grant proposal review for the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 2013 HONORS Conservation Leaders of Tomorrow Fellowship; TNC Outstanding Staff Award; Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society; Golden Key National Honor Society; Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society; American Scholar Award; Dean s List (all semesters) SKILLS AND TRAINING ArcGIS 10.x; R; NSF Science Communications Training, Microsoft Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; Conservation Planning Tool (CPT); Conservation Project Management; S-130 and S- 190 Wildland Firefighting training; Pesticide Applicator training; Power Tool training; Prescribed Burn Writing training; Wilderness First Aid certification; Grant Writing