Natalie is the Climate Change and Wildlife Scientist for Defenders of Wildlife, where she works on issues related to adaptation of natural systems to climate change, including integrating climate change adaptation into conservation planning and decision making. As a member of Defenders' climate department, she works closely with the conservation planning team to provide capacity and technical support to state agencies in strategic biodiversity protection, with specific attention to incorporating climate change adaptation into the State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) and other conservation planning efforts. Prior to joining Defenders, Natalie worked at NatureServe and has held research positions in the fields of animal behavior and science education. Natalie conducted her graduate research at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station and holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior.