Title: Assistant Professor
Institution: Northern Arizona University
Address: 624 S. Knoles Dr. Room 108, 624 S. Knoles Dr. Room 108, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Email: sara.souther@nau.edu
Phone: (304) 376-7729
Research Interests: Ecocultural resilience, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) integration in conservation, demographic modeling of rare plants, seed dispersal and predation dynamics, fire ecology and restoration, socio-ecological impacts of climate change, ecotypic differentiation
Biographical Sketch:
I am an ecologist and conservation biologist specializing in the intersection of ecological resilience, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and plant conservation. My research focuses on understanding how environmental stressors, including climate change, fire, and invasive species, shape plant population dynamics and ecosystem function. I integrate field-based studies, demographic modeling, and interdisciplinary approaches to inform conservation strategies, with a particular emphasis on culturally significant and endangered plant species. As an Assistant Professor at Northern Arizona University, I collaborate with Tribal communities, land managers, and interdisciplinary researchers to promote ecological restoration and sustainable land management. My work has been supported by agencies such as NSF, USFS, and DoD, and I have authored numerous publications on plant ecology, socio-ecological resilience, and conservation science.
Professional Certifications:
An Advanced Communication Workshop (COMPASS training, 2020)
Plant Associations course (USFS, 2019)
Indigenous Peoples Curriculum Development seminar (NAU, 2023)
Ongoing and Recent CESU Projects:
- Integration of Indigenous Knowledge and Values in Federal and Cross-Boundary Fire Management Practices
- Critically Needed Genetic Assessment of Proposed Endangered Plant at Coronado National Memorial
- Examination of Fire Effects on the Endangered Plant Pectis imberbis A. Gray to Aid Species Management and Recovery
Other Research:
- NOAA: Projecting Socio-Ecological Impacts of Drought in Southwestern Ecosystems to Prioritize Restoration Initiatives
- NSF: Restoration of a Southwestern Cultural Keystone Species: Integrating Socio-Ecological Systems to Predict Resilience of Traditional Acorn Harvest by Western Apache Communities