Emily Bell Joins University of Florida IFAS as Invasive Species Extension Coordinator
Emily Bell
University of Florida's IFAS Extension recently welcomed Emily Bell as the new Invasive Species Extension Coordinator/Florida Invasive Species Partnership Coordinator. An alumna of the University of Florida, she began her conservation career in 2007 as an intern for the Nature Conservancy focused on projects for the First Coast Invasive Working Group (FCIWG). Soon after, she joined the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR) where she worked in and then coordinated the Coastal Training Program, which provides science based outreach and educational opportunities to targeted decision making audiences (i.e. elected officials, businesses, and the public). At GTM NERR, Bell continued her participation in the FCIWG and co-chaired the group in 2012-2013.
In 2013, she accepted a position in Hawaii with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, where her primary roles were to lead a state wide planning process and update the Council’s 5-year strategic plan, coordinate activities relating to National/Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week, and provide support to 2 EDRR Incident Commands. She joins UF/IFAS to bring a unified voice to invasive species work within the department, to coordinate research activities and outreach across programs, and work statewide with partners to support critical efforts on invasive species issues in Florida.
We are pleased to work with her in her new position and can't wait to see the great things she brings to Extension in the South!
