Dylan Finley Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Greater Philadelphia

-Managing restoration projects. client communication, and contracts at multiple properties in theMid Atlantic-Selecting plants for restoration projects based off of habitat suitability and client needs-Leading crews in planting, invasive removal, soil work, and equipment operation-Presenting to local organizations on best restoration practices

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

- Directed the reforestation of a Hawaiian tropical dry forest, a critically endangered ecosystem, at Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, the hottest, driest, and windiest location on the island of Maui- Restored 12 acres and planted 9,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers with volunteers. Tripled planting rate and doubled volunteer base, becoming the largest dry forest restoration project on Maui by the end of my term.- Managed volunteer groups consisting of high school… Show more - Directed the reforestation of a Hawaiian tropical dry forest, a critically endangered ecosystem, at Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, the hottest, driest, and windiest location on the island of Maui- Restored 12 acres and planted 9,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers with volunteers. Tripled planting rate and doubled volunteer base, becoming the largest dry forest restoration project on Maui by the end of my term.- Managed volunteer groups consisting of high school and middle school classes, community members, visitors, and conservation professionals. Volunteer activities included native planting, invasive species removal, greenhouse propagation. Incorporated education into all volunteer workdays, and coordinated weekly pot-luck lunches after our planting volunteer days.- Developed restoration plans for the refuge, including site selection and plant species selection- Kept detailed logs of all plantings- Managed a greenhouse with over 5,000 plants, including some federally and state listed endangered species. Collected seeds, propagated plants from seeds and cuttings, controlled pests, fertilized, and kept a detailed inventory.- Performed chemical invasive control using backpack sprayers, tank sprayers, and pumps. Performed mechanical invasive control using a variety of tools.- Designed and installed drip irrigation systems that could be easily transported between planting areas- Prepared sites for planting by removing invasives and building fences to keep out invasive ungulates- Networked with conservation professionals at Haleakalā National Park, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, Plant Extinction Prevention Program, and restoration projects across the island to build our coalition and better inform planting efforts- Worked with interns to develop a monitoring protocol to measure planting success rates- Mentored 2 interns in all aspects of the position- Oversaw landscaping efforts to beautify the area around the visitor center Show less

Beacon, New York, United States

- Painted a 100 square foot acrylic mural with over 30 different species found in the Hudson River estuary- Mural used as the museum's starting point for all educational programs, including programs on biodiversity, ecosystems, human connection with the landscape, habitats, adaptations, and invasive vs native species

Syracuse, New York Area

- Created a new, data-driven approach to invasive species prioritization, now adopted across New York by the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) network - Extracted and assembled invasive species records from four online sources into one large database- Designed and ran complex workflows in ArcGIS and Microsoft Excel- Collaborated with the New York Natural Heritage Program and the state PRISM network to establish priority invasive species tier lists… Show more - Created a new, data-driven approach to invasive species prioritization, now adopted across New York by the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) network - Extracted and assembled invasive species records from four online sources into one large database- Designed and ran complex workflows in ArcGIS and Microsoft Excel- Collaborated with the New York Natural Heritage Program and the state PRISM network to establish priority invasive species tier lists. Facilitated regular conference calls.- Produced a rate of invasion dataset for New York’s invasive plants, using iMapInvasives distribution data and historical archives. Aligned taxonomy from several herbaria. Found significant predictors of invasion rate.- Presented research at the 2020 North American Invasive Species Management Association- Research pending publication in the journal Biological Invasions- Developed and led interactive online workshops to educate natural resource managers about the possible uses of the invasive tier lists- Developed an online platform to analyze tier lists and explain the methodology (links included) Show less

Poughkeepsie, New York

- Organized and led the annual Student Conservation Association Hudson Valley Corp's September Service Project, where 50+ SCA members planted 300 trees, removed invasive plant species, and built 450 feet of bog bridges over muddy trails. Reforestation efforts focused on trees that were projected to be the best adapted to climate change.- Led a survey team in collecting data on invasive plant presence at 500 plot points, identifying 7 previously undetected invasives- Mentored up to 10… Show more - Organized and led the annual Student Conservation Association Hudson Valley Corp's September Service Project, where 50+ SCA members planted 300 trees, removed invasive plant species, and built 450 feet of bog bridges over muddy trails. Reforestation efforts focused on trees that were projected to be the best adapted to climate change.- Led a survey team in collecting data on invasive plant presence at 500 plot points, identifying 7 previously undetected invasives- Mentored up to 10 interns at a time in species identification, vegetation assessment, trail management, invasive species removal, and GPS use- Collected data using Microsoft Access on plant species and abundance, height classes, canopy density, DBH, soil type, and various environmental attributes at 26 plots. Used this data to divide the Preserve into distinct habit types using classifications from the New York Natural Heritage Program and the US National Vegetation Classification System. Mapped these habitats in ArcGIS.- Participated in the development of a strategic plan focusing on improving resiliency of our preserve in the face of invasive species, climate change, deer overbrowse, and other issues- Authored a Climate Adaptation Plan outlining dozens of mitigation actions to meet our conservation targets- Led surveys for bird, amphibian, and reptile indicator species of high ecological value- Designed and led educational programs on phenology, bark identification, and ecology- Taught introductory biology labs in plant identification and deer browse impact- Coordinated outreach events- Maintained trail system- Managed social media accounts Show less

Pleasantville, Ny

- Implemented land stewardship and vegetation management projects that promote native biodiversity and reduce invasive species- Collected data for vegetation monitoring projects, including investigations into deer browse impact and preferred wood thrush habitat

Poughkeepsie, Ny

- Classified and mapped 16 forest and open field plant communities on the preserve through aerial photo analysis, plant identification, ecological assessment, data analysis, and G.I.S. - Led ongoing projects related to the management of the Vassar Ecological Preserve including, monitoring wildlife cameras, maintaining hiking trails, and controlling beaver dam water levels- Coordinated and executed outreach and volunteer events by leading educational walks, designing informational… Show more - Classified and mapped 16 forest and open field plant communities on the preserve through aerial photo analysis, plant identification, ecological assessment, data analysis, and G.I.S. - Led ongoing projects related to the management of the Vassar Ecological Preserve including, monitoring wildlife cameras, maintaining hiking trails, and controlling beaver dam water levels- Coordinated and executed outreach and volunteer events by leading educational walks, designing informational posters, and developing a certification program in preserve management Show less

Beacon, Ny

- Produced an extensive research paper outlining the feasibility of replacing the Indian Point nuclear power plant with green energy. This paper was disseminated by Clearwater to local governments

Vassar College

- Conducted extensive research on artists, prints/drawings, and geologic formations in preparation for an upcoming exhibition on Art and Geology- Researched works for several other exhibits, created mathematically accurate models of galleries, and assisted in handling of delicate prints

Montville, Nj

- Researched and wrote comprehensive reports on a regional watershed issue to contribute to the development of a flood acquisition plan for several municipalities- Developed an on-line photo map through selecting and editing images in Photoshop

Westwood, Nj

- Wrote detailed summaries of the firms past and current projects for publication on their website- Organized and consolidated a library of master plans and zoning ordinances

Suffern, Ny

- Designed and taught a curriculum for campers that focused on the techniques and merits of organic gardening- Expanded the size and productivity of an existing organic garden and managed it throughout the summer - Previously held positions at the camp including Photography Specialist, Assistant Media Director, and Theatre Camp Counsellor

Master Of Science - Ms, Conservation Biology, 3.6

Bachelor'S Degree, Urban Studies, With Minor In Environmental Studies, 3.7

Activities and Societies: VC Divest, Vassar Greens, The Chronicle, Outing Club Vassar is a prestigious liberal arts college.

Sustainability, Sustainability, A

Activities and Societies: D.I.S. Film Club One semester of study abroad. Coursework in G.I.S., Arctic glaciology, Nordic design