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Akasha obtained a bachelor's degree in biology at Southern Oregon University in 2004. She earned her PhD in 2015 at the University of Colorado - Boulder in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department where she also held a position as a postdoctoral scholar. Following her academic degrees she worked as and assistant professor for New Mexico State University's Range Science program from 2017-2022. In the fall of 2022, Akasha joined the faculty at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ where she works as an assistant professor of rangeland and restoration ecology.

Bison are influential herbivores known to alter the landscape around them. Their grazing limits the growth of woody plants and promotes forage regeneration, allowing open grasslands to persist. Jo's research aims to explore how bison grazing impacts surrounding soils, vegetation, and birds throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. She will be assesssing the prevalence and abundance of invasive species, vegetation structure, soil properties, and the diversity and abundance of bird species in relation to bison grazing intensity.

Madi is a Master's student exploring the types of plant species found in the soil seed bank of the Bitterroot Valley. She's passionate about understanding how environmental filters shape the assembly of species in the soil seed bank and is eager to integrate the dynamics of the below-ground community with native plant based restoration efforts.

Sophia is currently working on her Master's degree in native seed based restoration practices, investigating differences between seed sources to help build resiliency in dryland restoration practices. 

Abby earned her master's degree at Boise State University studying carbon destabilization in soils under various influences such as plant growth and erosion. She currenlty manages the Faist lab.