Ames, IA – The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium (IMCC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Katherine Kral-O'Brien to the leadership team. Dr. Kral-O'Brien brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role and is poised to lead the consortium in its mission to protect and restore monarch butterfly populations in Iowa.
With a deep-rooted commitment to conservation and a track record of collaborative work in the field of conservation biology, Dr. Kral-O'Brien is well-suited to steer the IMCC toward its ambitious goals. Her passion for monarch butterflies and her dedication to preserving their habitats make her an exceptional choice to lead this vital conservation effort.
Prior to joining the IMCC, Dr. Kral-O'Brien served as a Research Specialist at North Dakota State University, where she collaborated with a team of faculty and students researching grassland pollinators. Her academic background includes a Master's and a Ph.D. from North Dakota State University, where her Ph.D. research focused on method selection and estimating densities for grassland butterflies in the mixes-grass prairie.
As the new leader of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, Dr. Kral-O'Brien will oversee and guide the consortium's ongoing projects, partnerships, and educational initiatives aimed at monarch conservation. Her leadership will play a pivotal role in furthering the IMCC's mission to enhance and protect monarch butterfly populations and their habitats in Iowa.
"I am very excited to lead the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium," said Dr. Kral-O'Brien. "Monarch butterflies are not only iconic but also indicators of the health of our ecosystems. We will work together with our partners to help these incredible creatures and the landscapes they rely on."
The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium is a group of 50 organizations, including agricultural and conservation associations, agribusiness and utility companies, universities, and federal agencies, working together to sustain and advance monarch butterfly conservation efforts in Iowa. Through research, habitat restoration, public education, and community engagement, the IMCC aims to reverse the decline of monarchs and protect their essential migration corridors.
To learn more about the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, visit iowamonarchs.info and follow @IowaMonarchs on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.