Lauren Lyon is a PhD candidate at the University of Tennessee working on conservation of threatened mammals in the Appalachians. Much of her work utilizes GIS skills, coupled with field work and even local outreach. As a Tennessee native, Lauren has a vested interest in the region and broader southeast conservation, having taught Vertebrate Zoology and Ichthyology field courses for years. An avid naturalist, she strives to learn as much as she can about her ecosystems of focus and can often be found, hiking, snorkeling, and photographing wildlife in her spare time. She is excited to work with the LMVJV on waterfowl conservation given its importance to migratory birds in the region.