Our Team
Brian Mealor
IMAGINE Director and
Professor at UW Plant Sciences
Brian is the director of the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems and is an associated professor at the University of Wyoming. He has been working with various stakeholders and land managers to help reduce the spread of invasive annual grasses throughout the greater west.
Jaycie Arndt
IMAGINE Coordinator and
Assistant Research Scientist
Jaycie is the UW Extension Invasive Grasses Specialist and coordinator for IMAGINE and NEWIGWG (Northeast Wyoming Invasive Grasses Working Group). Jaycie conducts rangeland and weed science research, develops educational materials, organizes the IMAGINE Monitoring Network, facilitates annual grass workshops throughout Wyoming.
Beth Fowers
Assistant Research Scientist
Beth manages the ShREC greenhouse to ensure research, educational, and infrastructure objectives are met. Provide research support to other principal investigators undertaking research at ShREC, including assisting with data collection, experimental installation, etc. Communicate updates on status of projects during their management, such as presenting at conferences or written publications, and facilitate educational programs with other partners.
Morgan Frost
IMAGINE Postdoctoral Research Associate
Morgan is a plant community ecologist interested in the consequences of invasion for grassland ecosystems, especially under global climate change. Morgan is compiling and analyzing monitoring data associated with invasive grass species across the Northern Great Plains. She is working collaboratively with IMAGINE and Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) to both curate data and update existing models to better understand invasive grass management in this region.
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Chloe Mattilio
IMAGINE Postdoctoral Research Associate
Chloe is developing maps of predicted invasive annual grass presence at landscape scales with partners across Wyoming. Using IMAGINE monitoring network observations to train frequently collected satellite imagery, she aims to capture the spectral signature of invasive annual grasses for accurate detection.
Claire Visconti
Outreach Program Coordinator and
Assistant Research Scientist
Claire is the outreach program coordinator of the Invasive Annual Grasses Tech Transfer Partnership (IAG TTP) and assistant research scientist. She helps to plan and implement invasive grasses workshops throughout the western US. She also collaborates with project partners to produce educational materials for land managers.
Nancy Webb
Wind River/ Bighorn Basin District Invasive Annual Grass Coordinator
Nancy is the Invasive Annual Grass Coordinator for the Wind River/ Bighorn Basin District.Nancy works directly with the BLM District fuels team and other federal, state, and local partners. Nancy develops and implements strategic invasive annual grass programs throughout the region. She also provides monitoring support and coordination for land management.
Government and Industry Partners
Slade Franklin
Wyoming Department of Agriculture
Lindy Garner
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Ian Tator
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Craig Russow
UW Foundation
Rex Lockman
Laramie County Conservation District
Craig Alford
Corteva Agriscience
Rachel Mealor
Wyoming Weed and Pest Council
Affiliated University of Wyoming Faculty
Plant Sciences - Weed Science
Plant Sciences and Extension - Weed Specialist
Ecosystems Science and Management and WRRC - Restoration Ecology, Population Genetics, Evolutionary Biology and Botany
Ecosystem Science and Management - Wildlife Habitat Restoration Ecology
Ecosystem Science and Management and Extension - Rangeland Management, Plant-Herbivore Interaction Ecology, Fire Science
Linda van Diepen
Ecosystem Science and Management - Soil Microbial Ecology
Animal Science and Extension - Sheep Specialist
Botany and Biodiversity Institute - Plant Physiological Ecology
Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources - Private Lands Stewardship
Extension Associate Dean
CSU Agriculture Economist and Extension Specialist