College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Major Advisor:

Dana Infante

Background:

Joel Betts is a stream ecologist from Michigan who has focused his work on freshwater ecosystem and protected area conservation in Central America, as well as ecosystem restoration and sustainable agriculture in the northern US. He has a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in International Development Studies from Calvin University, and previously completed a Master's in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department at MSU with Dr. Jerry Urquhart where he focused on impacts of deforestation on stream ecosystems in Nicaragua. He has come back to the department after 5 years working in conservation. His Master's/Fulbright research and latter work provided research and support to indigenous-led conservation efforts in Mesoamerica, such as the Rama-Kriol action plan for Indio-Maiz. He has since spent 4 years working with farmers to adopt conservation practices in Massachusetts and in Michigan through various conservation district programs. His work seeks to understand landscape-level impacts on stream organisms and inform on-the-ground conservation efforts that improve stream habitat. Teaching adjunct classes in Grand Rapids helped lead Joel back towards the Fisheries and Wildlife department at MSU where he intends to pursue his dream of becoming a professor and developing a study abroad and research program. For his PhD research, he is working with the Aquatic Landscape Ecology Lab and Dr. Dana Infante to update the National Fish Habitat Assessment. Joel is also an avid naturalist, gardener, and outdoorsman with a passion for sustainable and healthy living. He and his wife Laura (and their dog Rio) live in Grand Rapids.