March 11, 2026, 5:00-6:00 CST: Dr. Rachel Ruden.

Dr. Ruden is a wildlife veterinarian for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and serves as an affiliate assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production medicine in the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Ruden received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania and obtained her PhD in Wildlife Disease Ecology from Iowa State University. In her current role, she investigates morbidity and mortality events and contributes to research projects examining the impacts of infectious diseases on other health issues in free-living wildlife populations. She also serves on the board of the Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, an organization dedicated to restoring Iowa's imperiled tallgrass prairie. Come meet Dr. Ruden! 

March 19, 2026, 4:00-5:00 CST: Erin Gleason.

Erin is a licensed veterinary technician who spent 18 years working in Emergency and Critical Care before changing careers into wildlife conservation. She received her education in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and currently works as a waterfowl specialist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, studying the relationship between heavy metal pollution and avian influenza in waterfowl. Erin will be presenting on heavy metal substances that are known endocrine disruptors, which have cascading physiological effects that can lead to lower immune system function, potentially making wildlife more susceptible to diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Erin has a wealth of knowledge and an interesting career path- stop by the Zoom for a great presentation!