Elise Gornish Honored With 2024 Distinguished Scholar Award

Our own Dr. Elise Gornish, Director of the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, has been awarded the 2024 University of Arizona Distinguished Scholar Award. Dr. Gornish is an associate professor of restoration ecology and an associate specialist at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment within the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences. 

Her scholarly work focuses on vegetation management in arid systems, emphasizing restoration, weed control, and soil management. Her work has led to over 80 publications and $5 million in grants. Recognized with awards from the Ecological Society of America and Society for Range Management, Dr. Gornish contributes to global restoration efforts that include being on a team that develops a curriculum for workshops focused on arid land restoration through the Society for Ecological Restoration. She has contributed to a report detailing management recommendations for restoration after fire, created for members of the European Union, and has participated in multiple international research teams. 

She is also passionate about STEM inclusion, directing Girls on Outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science (GALS), which provides opportunities for underserved female high school students throguh backcountry programs.