Our Speakers' Biographical Information - LMNA Rendezvous
Read short biographical information about subject matter expert speakers at LMNA Rendezvous 2024. Subject to updates!
Courses Dr. Patterson teaches at Louisiana Tech include Forest Soils, Soil Science, Soil Science Laboratory, Wetland Ecology, Management of Soil and Water Quality, and Watershed Management.
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Linda Barber Auld
Also widely known as the “NOLA Bug Lady,” Linda Auld is giving a presentation Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m. in the Bayou Room based on her research on “Monarchs, milkweed, migration and Oe.” She will receive the Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award that evening at 7 p.m. in the Bayou Room of the Abe Pierce III Convention Center at the Monroe Civic Center. Upon receiving the award, Auld will give the keynote speech for Rendezvous 2024. Congratulations, Linda! ![]() Dr. Bill Patterson Associate Professor of Forest Soils and Watershed Management (LA Tech) Agricultural Sciences and Forestry Dr. William Patterson received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology in 1983 from Davidson College, his Master of Science in Ecology in 1989 from the University of Tennessee, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry in 1997 from Louisiana State University. Dr. Patterson also serves as the faculty advisor for the Louisiana Tech Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters. His research interests include afforestation of bottomland hardwoods on problem soils, sustained forest soil productivity, and soil health. See some of his fine LMNNE Interactions here: https://louisianamasternaturalistsnortheast.com/2018/09/ https://wildopeneye.wordpress.com/2018/09/21/wading-in-to-watershed-dynamics-an-account-of-lmnnes-sixth-workshop/ |

Bayli Brossette
Bayli Brossette (pronounced bro-say), the Curator of Briarwood Nature Preserve, is from Chestnut, Louisiana. Her youth consisted of wandering the woods of Kisatchie and learning everything she could about the forest. She studied at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. She was a member of the Student Government Association, Presidential Leadership Program, and founded the Northwestern State University FFA Chapter. Bayli worked through college as an evidence technician for the Natchitoches Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force. After graduating from university, she moved out to the piney woods of Saline, LA, and became the Curator of Briarwood. Since being the Curator, Bayli has created many events catered toward students which has led to an increase of visitors from across the state. Her goal for Briarwood is to increase visitor numbers, host more events, and bring more awareness to the importance of native species. She is a member of the Society for Louisiana Irises, Louisiana FFA Alumni Association, Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research, and the Louisiana Native Plant Society. She lives at Briarwood with her husband, Travis, and their daughter, Clovis.
Bayli Brossette (pronounced bro-say), the Curator of Briarwood Nature Preserve, is from Chestnut, Louisiana. Her youth consisted of wandering the woods of Kisatchie and learning everything she could about the forest. She studied at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. She was a member of the Student Government Association, Presidential Leadership Program, and founded the Northwestern State University FFA Chapter. Bayli worked through college as an evidence technician for the Natchitoches Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force. After graduating from university, she moved out to the piney woods of Saline, LA, and became the Curator of Briarwood. Since being the Curator, Bayli has created many events catered toward students which has led to an increase of visitors from across the state. Her goal for Briarwood is to increase visitor numbers, host more events, and bring more awareness to the importance of native species. She is a member of the Society for Louisiana Irises, Louisiana FFA Alumni Association, Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research, and the Louisiana Native Plant Society. She lives at Briarwood with her husband, Travis, and their daughter, Clovis.

Dr. Terri Maness is the James C Jeffery, M.D. Endowed Professor of Pre-Medicine, and Environmental Science Program Coordinator in the School of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University.
Her research focuses on how animals respond to stressors in their environment. Her approach is integrative, encompassing behavioral ecology, conservation, demography, endocrinology, immunology, and toxicology. You can find out more about her lab group's current research projects by visiting:
https://manesstj.wixsite.com/manesslab
Her research focuses on how animals respond to stressors in their environment. Her approach is integrative, encompassing behavioral ecology, conservation, demography, endocrinology, immunology, and toxicology. You can find out more about her lab group's current research projects by visiting:
https://manesstj.wixsite.com/manesslab

Chris Doffitt, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Field Botanist and Natural Heritage Program Coordinator will explain Louisiana's Natural Area Registry and Natural Heritage Program!
So far, program staff have compiled more than 10,000 occurrence records of rare, threatened, and endangered species, unique natural communities, and other distinct elements of natural diversity and identified more than 350 ecologically significant sites statewide.
As a leading plantsman, his primary interest is plant taxonomy and systematics and he's always interested in work that allows him to utilize these skills and where he can learn new ones. In the past this has involved performing wetland delineations, rare plant and animal surveys.
Using his plant ID skills has led to him having a variety of jobs where he not only utilized the talents that he already had, but learned new skills as well. Amongst his many other consultancies, Chris provided data to assist with the assessment of Camp Hardtner! He is always interested in new work that exercises his extensive knowledge and skillset and adds to it!
So far, program staff have compiled more than 10,000 occurrence records of rare, threatened, and endangered species, unique natural communities, and other distinct elements of natural diversity and identified more than 350 ecologically significant sites statewide.
As a leading plantsman, his primary interest is plant taxonomy and systematics and he's always interested in work that allows him to utilize these skills and where he can learn new ones. In the past this has involved performing wetland delineations, rare plant and animal surveys.
Using his plant ID skills has led to him having a variety of jobs where he not only utilized the talents that he already had, but learned new skills as well. Amongst his many other consultancies, Chris provided data to assist with the assessment of Camp Hardtner! He is always interested in new work that exercises his extensive knowledge and skillset and adds to it!

Dr. Anna Hill
Dr. Hill earned the PhD in Biology (1994) from the University of Notre Dame where her research focused on aquatic ecology of freshwater invertebrates and invasive species in lakes of northern Wisconsin. After joining the faculty at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Dr. Hill participated in collaborative studies of local and regional invertebrate populations as impacted by abiotic factors. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge was central to research projects by Dr. Hill's graduate and undergraduate students and was a long-term data collection site for her ecology and freshwater invertebrate classes. After her retirement, Dr. Hill remains active in environmental education and conservation and serves on multiple board committees with The Friends of Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Dr. Hill earned the PhD in Biology (1994) from the University of Notre Dame where her research focused on aquatic ecology of freshwater invertebrates and invasive species in lakes of northern Wisconsin. After joining the faculty at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Dr. Hill participated in collaborative studies of local and regional invertebrate populations as impacted by abiotic factors. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge was central to research projects by Dr. Hill's graduate and undergraduate students and was a long-term data collection site for her ecology and freshwater invertebrate classes. After her retirement, Dr. Hill remains active in environmental education and conservation and serves on multiple board committees with The Friends of Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Jackson Cox
ACE volunteer at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge loves the wildlife! A great man to talk with about birds and fungi, he regularly leads hikes around the refuge and has extensive knowledge of both the various habitats and their denizens! |
Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee The award-winning Professor of Biology, Plant and Spectral Ecology Lab (ULM), Dr. Bhattacharjee is a Certified Local Phenology Leader (USA National Phenology Network) and one of the most knowledgeable environmental educators in Louisiana. His research work levers high technology with Phenology! He uses drones with special cameras to study Louisiana's forest in such places as The Russell Sage WMA. Since 2018 he's been a participant in Drones for Land Trust Monitoring and Management at Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University. He has researched, and consulted on important local sites of scientific interest, such as Restoration Park in West Monroe. He served as LMNA Keynote speaker at Rendezvous 2019 (Camp Hardtner) He also serves as an international ecological consultant in the Himalayan region and as President of The Friends of Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. https://www.ulm.edu/~joydeep/ https://webservices.ulm.edu/facultyactivities/profile/joydeep https://www.atree.org/profile/joydeep-bhattacharjee/ |
Dr. Charles Allen

Dr. Charles Allen is a Botanist and a retired Professor of Biology from the University of Louisiana at
Monroe and also retired from Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of
Military Lands. He is a charter member and past President of the Louisiana Native Plant Society (LNPS).
His published books include Butterfly and Moth Gardening, Edible Plants, Wildflowers, Trees Shrubs and
Woody Vines, and Grasses. In recent years, he has offered plant id classes at home and on the road and
also teaches master naturalists' programs.
In recent years, Dr. Allen has offered plant id classes at home and on the road and also teaches Master Naturalists programs. He and his wife Susan own and operate Allen Acres B&B, a nature-oriented paradise in west central Louisiana, near Pitkin.
In March of 2019, he was awarded the first Caroline Dorman Outstanding Naturalist Award (2018) by the Louisiana Master Naturalist Organization, and Conservationist of the year by LWF in 2023.
Dr. Logan Wiedenfeld

Dr. Logan Wiedenfeld is the current president of the Gulf South Mycological Society and an Assistant Professor of English at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. While his training is in the humanities, he is among the most passionate amateur mycologists in our region, and his passion for macrofungi grew from his experiences in the woods of southeast Louisiana and the Atchafalaya Basin. Initially drawn to fungi for their value as table fare, Logan quickly became fascinated with fungal taxonomy broadly speaking. He has discovered new species endemic to Louisiana, including Amanita batonrougensis, Amanita insinuans, and Amanita audubonensis (named after Audubon Park in New Orleans), and he is always thrilled to have the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with others who appreciate the natural world for its own sake. He has worked with the Master Naturalists in the past, the Baton Rouge chapter in particular, and he is excited to be able to rekindle that relationship.
Kimberly C. Paxton

Kimberly 'Kim' Paxton lives in West Monroe, LA with her husband Charles. She graduated from West Monroe High School and served overseas in the USAF as a Maintenance Scheduler. She has explored nature in Asia, Africa, The UK and Ireland.
Kim is the secretary of the Northeast chapter (LMN-NE) and of the Gulf South Mycological Society. She also serves as a volunteer for Ouachita Green and Keep West Monroe Beautiful, and volunteers regularly for The Friends of Black Bayou.
She is fascinated by nature and loves to discover new species she hasn't met before, especially fungi. She's an award-winning nature photographer.
Check out Kim's iNaturalist observations.
Kim is the secretary of the Northeast chapter (LMN-NE) and of the Gulf South Mycological Society. She also serves as a volunteer for Ouachita Green and Keep West Monroe Beautiful, and volunteers regularly for The Friends of Black Bayou.
She is fascinated by nature and loves to discover new species she hasn't met before, especially fungi. She's an award-winning nature photographer.
Check out Kim's iNaturalist observations.
Dr. Todd Murphy
Dr. Todd Murphy is an Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Louisiana Monroe, where he also serves as the Associate Director for the School of Sciences. Dr. Murphy's research is focused on better understanding atmospheric processes related to the formation of tornadoes and other hazardous weather. To accomplish this, he uses an array of ground-based instrumentation to collect observations in the path of severe storms. |
Paul Davidson
Active in conservation and environmental organizations for over 40 years, serving as Chair of the Louisiana Sierra Club, President of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Board Chair of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and other organizations. Was Executive Director of the Black Bear Conservation Coalition for 25 years until the politics of bear recovery got to be too much. Now spend time repairing homes for poor people with Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge and organizing the Feliciana Wildflower Project. Live on a rural farm in East Feliciana Parish. |
Dr. John Carr
ULM Professor Emeritus of Biology, Dr. John Carr trained as a Zoologist and has worked for a conservation organization and in academia. He recently retired from teaching at ULM, having taught mainly organismal classes like anatomy, field biology, and herpetology. In conjunction with my graduate students, I have maintained active research on the distribution and ecology of the herpetofauna of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and West Gulf Coastal Plain in Louisiana, especially freshwater turtles. In addition, I have continued working with colleagues on the ecology and conservation of tropical turtles in South America (Colombia and Ecuador), something I started as a graduate student. Here in Louisiana, we continue working on the Alligator Snapping Turtle, the turtle I have devoted the most time and effort in studying here in northeastern Louisiana.
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Nikki Anderson

Find out more about Louisiana's bats and the deadly disease that threatens them!
Nikki Anderson, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Disease Biologist, MS (LSU), will introduce you to the wonderful world of bats! Working on PhD at LSU SVM, she has worked with bats since 2016.
Her focus is White-Nose Syndrome!
Nikki Anderson, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Disease Biologist, MS (LSU), will introduce you to the wonderful world of bats! Working on PhD at LSU SVM, she has worked with bats since 2016.
Her focus is White-Nose Syndrome!
Dr. Gary StringerLearn about the enormous prehistoric Cetaceans that inhabited Louisiana in past ages from Louisiana's premier expert on the subject - ULM Professor Emeritus of Biology, Dr. Gary Stringer!
Dr. Stringer will speak on Saturday night, and lead a field trip expedition to land protected by The Louisiana Nature Conservancy in the Copenhagen Hills. Terms and conditions apply. In advance, participants must sign a Louisiana Nature Conservancy waiver document and promise to adhere to the rules of the site. There is to be no digging of any sort nor disturbance of vegetation and wildlife. The site has rare prairie habitat and is home to special plants. Finds may be collected for scientific and educational purposes. Nobody shall depart early without declaring finds to Dr. Stringer. All participants must present all their finds at the expedition's end for proper identification and record. |
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