Nicole joined the GLUE Lab in 2023, focusing on land conservation policy in the US. She worked on a project that analyzed the characteristics and ecosystem benefits of retired croplands in the Conservation Reserve Program. She was interested in learning which lands and landowners enter voluntary conservation programs so as to inform which policy levers can be used to effectively improve agricultural and environmental outcomes.

Before joining GLUE, she completed her Ph.D. in Applied and Agricultural Economics in 2018 at UW-Madison for her research on “The Economics of Wetland Conservation”. Nicole received a Bachelor's in Economics and International Business from Loyola University Chicago. Outside of work, she enjoys birding, hiking, and fostering kittens.

Nicole is now an assistant professor at Montana State University in the Agricultural Economics and Economics department. Her research pairs econometrics and geospatial data to analyze policy, conduct ecosystem valuation, and quantify the role of nature-based solutions in climate adaptation.

See Nicole exploring the cranberry bogs of Warrens, Wisconsin here.

Where are they Now?

Assistan Professor at Montana State University.