Welcome Katie Kucera! Katie recently joined Plants of Concern as the new Research Assistant for Northeastern IL. Katie received her BS in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and recently earned her MSc in Plant Biology and Conservation from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. She brings experience in field botany, plant conservation techniques, laboratory research, and working as part of a driven volunteer community. In her spare time, she volunteers as a steward for the Forest Preserves of Cook County and for Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, and as a newsletter editor for the Illinois Native Plant Society. Katie is excited to be part of the Plants of Concern community and to continue advancing the program's mission to monitor and steward our most precious plant species.