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2026 ESA Education Section Election

Thank you to all ESA Education Section members who submitted nominations for the 2026 election. The officers elected here will take office immediately following the close of voting (ends October 31) and the announcement of winners.

  • Chair (serves through the 2027 ESA Annual Meeting)
  • Chair-Elect (rises to chair following the 2027 ESA Annual Meeting)
  • Secretary (serves through the 2027 ESA Annual Meeting)

Upon taking office, the officers will work with staff to engage the membership on activities for 2027.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

About the Candidates

Mary Beth Kolozsvary (Chair): Mary Beth Kolozsvary, PhD, is a Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Siena University. She earned a BS from SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Forest Biology (Wildlife), MS from Purdue University in Forestry and Natural Resources (Wildlife Science), and PhD from the University of Maine in the Ecology and Environmental Sciences interdisciplinary program (Ecological Sciences and Statistics). Her research program focuses broadly on ecology and biodiversity conservation in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, with a pedagogical emphasis on bringing field and technical skills into the undergraduate classroom through authentic ecological research via collaborative networks. Mary Beth serves on the board of the Ecological Research as Education Network (EREN), currently serving as Research Coordinator, and formerly serving as Education Coordinator, and serves on the Network Management Team for the Macrosystems Ecology for All (MEFA) network. She is an active member of ESA’s Education Section and co-leads ESA’s 4DEE Video and Media working group. Since arriving at Siena, her student-centered research program involves working with local conservation leaders and community partners to address conservation-related research questions relating to water quality, biodiversity conservation, and invasive species distribution, spread, and prioritizing management actions on the local level. Her interactions and involvement with ESA’s highly-supportive ecology education network of professionals provided her with the critical expertise and support needed to pursue this career trajectory. Mary Beth’s path to the chair role did not unfold as originally planned, as the transition was delayed by a year, yet she navigated that circumstance with professionalism, patience, and grace. When she took on the role, she reliably carried out every responsibility of the position: Supporting the annual REEFS event, running the section business meeting at the annual meeting, organizing a mixer so members could connect socially, and submitting the annual section report to ESA. Just as importantly, she is a generous, collaborative colleague who gave her time as an unpaid volunteer, alongside a full academic workload, out of a genuine commitment to ecology education and the future of the section. Her contributions through EREN, MEFA, and ESA’s 4DEE video/media working group further reflect her dedication to ecology educators.

Emily Rauschert (Chair-elect): I am an associate professor of plant ecology at Cleveland State University, a public urban university. I have been involved in effective teaching initiatives since I was a graduate student, and I have been an ESA education scholar multiple times. I have organized/co-organized eight education-related workshops about teaching at the ESA meetings, as well as three education-focused IGNITE sessions. Some of my scholarly work is related to effective teaching, and additionally, I have participated in several 4DEE initiatives. I have been an active member of the education section, making substantial contributions to the ESA community related to teaching, and I am able to help with continuing and expanding the focus on effective ecological education and teaching-related professional development in ESA.

Stephanie Hudon (Secretary): I am a Boise State University researcher whose work connects ecology, genetics, and wildlife conservation. I lead research on Golden Eagle population genetics and demography, using non-invasive genetic methods to study population structure, relatedness, and the effects of mortality. I also direct Boise State’s Sequencing Core and mentor students in research. I would bring an ecological perspective, strong organizational experience, and a collaborative approach to the ESA secretary role.