Welcome Chris Benda! We are excited to announce that Chris will coordinate the new Plants of Concern – Southern IL project through Southern Illinois University.

Chris Benda has 15 years of experience as a botanist working independently and with various organizations throughout Illinois. He teaches field botany at Southern Illinois University and is a former president of the Illinois Native Plant Society. He lives in Makanda, Illinois with his wife and two dogs and his website is illinoisbotanizer.com.