NATA welcomes the new Workshop Coordinator, Cherice Smithers. As a native Floridian, Cherice has long been interested in the conservation of Florida’s natural resources. She received a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and an M.S. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from UF.

Cherice has worked in several different capacities within the fields of ecological research and conservation, including as an environmental monitor on the BP oil spill response, a native pollinator researcher with the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, and as a field biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Research Institute. She is excited to serve in her new role as the NATA Workshop Coordinator, and looks forward to supporting natural resource professionals in their work to sustainably manage Florida’s natural areas.

We have some great courses lined up this year! In May and June we will be offering Managing Visitors & Volunteers and Conservation Site Assessment & Planning, which are two of the four core courses contributing to NATA’s Certificate in Natural Areas Management (CNAM). The other two core courses, Managing for Diversity and Collaborating to Manage Ecosystems, will be offered later this year. We will also be offering S-130/S-190/L-180 and S-131 fire trainings this summer and fall. Stay tuned, and check out our website for updates!

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