Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a Professor of Natural Resources at Northland College, affiliated with the Burke Center. She specializes in plant community ecology, ecological monitoring, and conservation biology, with a focus on natural disturbance regimes and climate change impacts. Her research collaborates with the National Park Service, particularly in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Johnson holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MS in Biology from East Carolina University, and a BS in Biology from Northland College.

Her teaching includes courses such as BIO128 (Natural History and Conservation in the Lake Superior Watershed), BIO222 (Woodland Plants), and NRS358 (Wetlands). Research interests emphasize vegetation dynamics in dynamic ecosystems like floodplains, beaches, and coastal wetlands, addressing drivers such as invasive species, climate change, and habitat fragmentation. She prioritizes experiential learning and student research opportunities, encouraging undergraduates to engage in capstone projects within her lab.

Johnson’s work combines long-term ecological datasets with applied conservation strategies, aiming to inform adaptive management practices. Her lab actively publishes on biodiversity trends, climate adaptation, and vegetation monitoring in collaboration with regional agencies.