Katie Villano Spellman

Katie Villano Spellman is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' International Arctic Research Center. Her work bridges plant ecology, climate change impacts, and science education through interdisciplinary collaborations and community engagement.

• Research focuses: Non-native plant invasion, berry phenology, wildfire-ecosystem interactions, and Arctic climate dynamics
• Teaching spans graduate seminars (e.g., Ecological Background for Resilience, Interdisciplinary Research Methods) and undergraduate courses (Our Changing Climate) with hybrid formats
• Key outreach initiatives: Arctic and Earth SIGNs, Winterberry Citizen Science, Fresh Eyes on Ice, and invasive plant education programs
• Mentors graduate students in Natural Resources, Geosciences, and Biology programs