Hi, I'm Ella, a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University researching spatial and temporal trends in tree mortality in the Pacific Northwest.

I earned my B.A. in Biology from Reed College in 2012, after which I served in the Peace Corps, teaching high school biology, and worked as an environmental educator at Saint John’s Outdoor University. I graduated with a M.S. in Forest and Natural Resource Management from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2017, where my work focused on how disturbances, both natural and anthropogenic, affect forested ecosystems and influence management options, particularly at the landscape scale. During my Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, I studied the effects of a spatial-explicit disturbance – eastern dwarf mistletoe infestation – in lowland black spruce forests and the consequences for management at both the stand and landscape scales.

As an educator, I focus on creating an open, welcoming environment conductive to learning, incorporating technical skills into concept-based coursework, and providing opportunities for students to customize their work according to their interests and goals. 

I can be reached at grayella@oregonstate.edu