Leyna Stemle is a conservation biologist currently working as a permit technician in the transportation and infrastructure sector. Originally from the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, Leyna has always been a passionate environmentalist and scientist. For her photo, handling of the gopher tortoise was conducted under appropriate permits and in accordance with state and federal regulations. Gopher tortoises should never be handled without proper authorization.

The time spent in forests and creeks in Missouri with friends and family sparked her love for nature. As a scientist, Leyna is interested in linear infrastructure impacting wildlife, geographic information systems, conservation, herpetology, habitat use, wildlife survivorship, and animal movement. Leyna has many years of experience leading research projects; for example, she earned a Fulbright Award in Ghana, studying sea turtle and artisanal fisheries interactions and she completed a Ph.D. at the university of Miami. She is enthusiastic about protected lands and parks, getting people into nature and showing them how great reptiles and amphibians can be, and being involved in campus sustainability initiatives. When Leyna isn’t at work she is hiking, camping, doing yoga, reading, or spending time with her two rescued cats. Her favorite park is Big Cypress National Preserve!

Articles by Leyna Rose Stemle, Ph.D.

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