Katie Pennartz, Doctoral Candidate

Katie is a native Texan who obtained her bachelor's in Plant Science from the University of Texas and her Master's in Range and Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University Kingsville. Her thesis research focused on shrub encroachment in South Texas and ecological niche modeling. The majority of her work experience was gained as a botanist with the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring program run by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Ecological Observation Network. Through these positions Katie got the chance to explore the Southwest and fell in love with high desert ecosystems. She is excited to be returning to TAMU-K as a PhD student with research focused on the distribution of mammal and herptile communities in National Parks located on the Colorado Plateau. This research will contribute to predicting species responses under changing climate conditions and aligns with her interests in community ecology and distribution modeling. In her free time Katie enjoys reading fantasy books, trail running, and building legos with her nieces and nephews.