Research Interests  Interactions between grasses and woody plants in relation to soils, climate, fire, and grazing. Models are used in conjunction with remote sensing, dendrochronology, and stable isotope chemistry to reconstruct vegetation history, and to predict changes. HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS Fellow, Ecological Society of America (2016-present) Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2009-Present) EJ Dyksterhuis Distinguished Lecture, Texas A&M University (2015) Plenary speaker, “Stewardship for Future Drylands” Symposium, Mexican Scientific Ecological Society & Socioecosystems and Sustainability, San Luis Potosi, Mexico (2015) Plenary speaker, International workshop on “Abrupt grass-woodland transitions: Determinants and consequences for ecosystem services”, Punta del Este, Uruguay (2012)