Stephanie received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology from Texas State University where she studied a pseudo-maternal colony of bats at Old Tunnel WMA, Kendall County, Texas. She is NAUI SCUBA certified and has extensive GIS training. Prior to joining Zara, she was Science and Policy Coordinator, and previously Planning Ecologist, at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and has also worked as an ecologist at the Texas Forest Service. She has experience in pit-tagging, mist- and harp-netting of bat species in Texas. Her bird experience includes surveying and monitoring of the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Lesser Prairie-chicken along with other skills gained from handling, surveying, and monitoring bird species from around the world. She has been involved in a number of Texas native fish working groups including Rio Grande Silvery Minnow releases and quarterly monitoring, Devil’s River Minnow surveys, and the Pecos Pupfish Conservation Agreement and monitoring. Her large mammal experience includes using telemetry to survey Roosevelt Elk, and White-tailed Deer surveys, as well as a Gray Wolf range study.

Stephanie’s work on rare plant species includes monitoring for Texas wild rice, star cactus, and Tobusch fishhook cactus. She also gained experience with rare plant ranges from working as a technician with the TPWD Texas Natural Diversity Database (TXNDD). Other previous work includes co-authoring a wildfire hazard risk assessment and working as a wildland firefighter while at the Texas Forest Service. 

Stephanie enjoys spending time in the outdoors in many capacities, and traveling.She especially enjoys studying and exploring desert and island ecosystems.