krheath@gmail.com

M.S. in Wildlife, Aquatic and Wildlands Science and Management

Kristen grew up in Odessa, Texas where she was raised with a love of animals and being outdoors. In 2009 she received her Bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University in Biology with a minor in Art. Following this, she worked in wildlife rehabilitation and avian field research. Her work has taken her to New York, northern California, Hawai'i, and Panama where she worked primarily on behavioral ecology and conservation of songbirds. Kristen's passion for birds and field research brought her back to Lubbock to work with Snowy Plovers. She received her Master's degree in Wildlife, Wildlands, and Aquatic Science and Management in August 2019. After graduating, Kristen has continued her work with Snowy Plovers as a research associate. This work has included genetic sexing of adult and nestling Snowy Plovers, as well as working toward publishing her research. In May 2020, she will be moving to Columbia, Missouri with her husband, Matthew Acre, and their dog, Juno, to work as a Research Specialist for the University of Missouri on Brown Headed Nuthatches.