Dr. Kathy Crowley, Assistant Professor of Plant Biology, is a broadly trained plant ecologist with a focus in forest and wetland ecosystems, where she asks questions about the role of plants in a changing environment. She uses models to investigate how plant species change interacts with environmental stressors—such as climate change, invasive insects and diseases, and atmospheric pollution—to affect how ecosystems function. Kathy’s prior work in research, environmental consulting, and non-profit conservation also inform her teaching, which includes a range of courses in botany and ecology.