Meet the Staff

Matthew Johnson, Ph.D.
Program Manager

Matthew is a conservation biologist interested in understanding links between movement, spatial patterns, behavioral ecology, and population dynamics.

Education and Experience: PhD, Biology, Virginia Tech, 2006; MS, Natural Resource Management, University of Nevada, 2002; BS, Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1998; AA, Truckee Meadows Community College, 1995.

Matthew held positions with the USDA Forest Service, US Geological Survey, and US Fish and Wildlife Service prior to accepting the network Program Manger position in 2020.

Hannah Andrascik, Biological Science Technician

Primary Responsibilities: Hannah is the Upland Vegetation Field Crew Lead, collecting data for the upland vegetation protocol and managing seasonal vegetation field crews.

Education and Experience: BS in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies, Pacific Lutheran University.

Following in the footsteps of her parents, Hannah began working for NPS as a seasonal in 2012. Hannah has worked in parks such as Mt. Rainier, Shenandoah, Yosemite, Grand Teton, and most recently working with the Lake Mead Invasive Plant Management Team from 2019-2022, joining SCPN in June of 2022. Hannah enjoys backpacking, skiing, and appreciating alpine sunrises.

Christopher Calvo, Science Communicator

Primary Responsibilities: Writer/Editor, Peer Review Manager, and Science Communication Specialist.

Education and Experience: MS, Applied Geospatial Sciences, BS, Environmental Sciences and Biology, Northern Arizona University.

Chris specializes in bird ecology, cartography, and science communication techniques. Before joining SCPN, Chris studied endangered and threatened riparian birds, including the Yellow-billed cuckoo and the Common black hawk as well as riparian restoration applications and field biology. Chris also hosts a science radio show in Flagstaff, AZ.

Harrison Jones, Ph.D.
Southwestern Avian Ecologist

Primary Responsibilities: Harrison is responsible for bird monitoring and research for SCPN, including protocol development, data collection, and data analyses.

Education and Experience: PhD, Zoology, University of Florida, 2020; MS, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2016; BS, French Lit/Biology, Haverford College, 2012.

Harrison joined the staff of The Institute for Bird Populations in 2021 and began collaborating with SCPN the same year. Previously, his dissertation research had focused on the responses of Andean bird communities to forest fragmentation and illegal logging. His interests include avian landscape, behavioral, and community ecology and natural history, as well as birding, hiking, running, and soccer.

Jodi Norris, Ph.D., Landscape Ecologist

Primary Responsibilities: Jodi works on protocol development and data analysis for the Land Surface Phenology vital sign. She also provides quantitative and climate data analysis assistance for multiple protocols.

Education and Experience: PhD, Botany, University of Wyoming, 2006; MS, Geology, University of Nebraska, 1996; BS, Geology, University of Nebraska, 1993.

Jodi joined SCPN in 2006 as the GIS specialist. She came to Flagstaff from Wyoming, where she worked with the water program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Jodi also studied Holocene climatic control of ponderosa pine distribution at the University of Wyoming using packrat middens and lots of data.

Cindy Parker, Data Specialist/IT

Primary Responsibilities: Cindy designs, develops and maintains the user interfaces (front ends) used for data entry for all SCPN monitoring projects and provides full IT support for all SCPN network staff, local and remote.

Education and Experience: MA, Physical Geography, Northern Arizona University.

Cindy started her career in environmentally related topics in the mid-70s by getting her BA in Physical Geography from UCSB. She took a 27 year detour working as a software engineer developing user interfaces for a ship-based US Navy radar detection system. She swerved back toward her main interest in 2002 by moving to Flagstaff to get a Masters degree at NAU. While still a student, she provided GIS services for the Flagstaff Area Monuments for 3 years before taking another 6 year detour into visitor services and fees. She swerved back toward natural resources, once again, in 2012 when she got her current position at SCPN. So far she’s been able to stay the course …

Laura Ploughe, Ph.D, Interdisciplinary Ecologist (Data Manager)

Primary Responsibilities: Laura is responsible for data management and research for the various vital sign monitoring being conducted for SCPN.

Education and Experience: PhD, Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 2018; MS, Secondary Education, Saint Joseph's University, 2010; BS, Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 2003

Laura joined SCPN in 2022. Her graduate and postdoctoral research focused on community ecosystem response to climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., grazing, mine reclamation, recreational activities). Her research interests include working and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to address and support the leading ecological questions regarding biodiversity and global environmental change to better inform conservation strategies.

David Rakestraw, Hydrologic Technician

Primary Responsibilities: David collects and summarizes hydrologic data associated with water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and riparian ecosystems monitoring.

Education and Experience: BS, Biology with emphasis on Wildlife Biology, Northern Arizona University.

David started as a field technician for SCPN's bird monitoring program in 2013. He also worked on the SCPN water crew in the fall and winter months before starting full-time as SCPN's hydrologic technician in 2016.

Mary Anne Schrade, Management Support Specialist

Primary Responsibilities: Mary Anne has provided administrative support to Inventory and Monitoring for over 10 years. She currently facilitates travel and payroll processing, purchasing, personnel and budget administration for both the Southern Colorado Plateau and Northern Colorado Plateau networks.

Education and Experience: BA, Psychology, Northern Arizona University.

Mary Anne's previous experience include working as a dispatcher for the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County and Zion National Park, and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in west Africa. She enjoys travel, spending time outdoors, and playing classical music.

Kristin Straka, GIS Specialist

Primary Responsibilities: Kristin obtains, creates and manages spatial data for the network; creates maps and performs spatial analyses.

Education and Experience: CERT, Geographic Information Systems, Northern Arizona University; BS, Botany, Northern Arizona University; AAS, Computer Information Systems, Coconino Community College.

Kristin specializes in GIS, LiDAR Remote Sensing, Land Surveying, and GPS technology. She previously worked as the Assistant Data Manager for SCPN, the Cartographic Technician for the FLAG Area National Monuments, and as a Biological Science Technician for Grand Canyon National Park.

Stacy Stumpf, Aquatic Ecologist

Primary Responsibilities: Stacy manages protocol implementation, data collection, data analysis, and project management for the Aquatic Macroinvertebrate and Water Quality monitoring protocols.

Education and Experience: MS, Biology, Northern Arizona State University; BS, Environmental Sciences, Bowling Green State University.

Stacy has been working for the Water Resources program at SCPN since 2007. His interests include freshwater ecology, disturbance ecology, mountain biking, soccer, and hanging out with his dogs.

Megan Swan, Botanist

Primary Responsibilities: Megan is responsible for all things vegetation at the network. She manages and coordinates the integrated upland monitoring program, collects and analyzes data, and is implementing vegetation monitoring at springs.

Education and Experience: MS, Land Resources and Environmental Science, Montana State University; BS, Biology, Ohio University.

Megan has been working with SCPN for over 10 years, and has been a part of the SCPN upland vegetation and soils protocol since its early beginnings. Before that, she worked seasonal jobs in plant ecology research and environmental and outdoor education.