Dr. Stella Cousins

Biography

Stella Cousins is a research scientist and lecturer focused on ecosystem science, management, and conservation. Her research interests include understanding forest dynamics and ecological responses to various disturbances, particularly in relation to the Great Lakes forests impacted by beech leaf disease. She employs comprehensive surveys conducted through the USFS Forest Inventory Analysis Program and uses long-term monitoring of tree growth, mortality, and community dynamics to reveal how ecosystems respond to environmental changes. Prior to her current role at the University of Michigan, Stella served as an assistant professor at California Polytechnic State University and was a postdoctoral scholar at UC Berkeley. She completed her Ph.D. at UC Berkeley while being a graduate fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). Her teaching expertise includes courses on climate solutions, forest ecosystems, and ecology applications at the University of Michigan.

Research Interests