Ellen earned her B.S. in Wildlife Conservation at Murray State University and has worked with endangered bat species, white-tailed deer, American black bears, and cougars. She is interested in researching the adaptive potential of all 8 species of bears by estimating effective population size at the population level. In the face of accelerating climate change, Ellen is committed to supporting conservation efforts that enhance species’ capacity to adapt. By calculating effective population size, her work aims to identify populations at risk of genetic erosion and inbreeding, which can inform wildlife managers and promote long-term population viability.