Lora Perkins

Dr. Lora Perkins is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University (SDSU), serving as Lead Faculty for the Native Plant Initiative and an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno, an M.S. in Botany and Plant Pathology from Oregon State University, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from New Mexico State University.

Her research focuses on restoring native plant populations in degraded landscapes, addressing challenges such as invasive species, soil salinity, and habitat fragmentation. Key interests include native plant propagation, rangeland management, and ecological restoration. She teaches courses like RANG 205 (Introduction to Range Management) and leads the RANG 400 Range Judging Team. Perkins actively contributes to professional societies, including the Society for Range Management and Ecological Society of America.

Notable awards include the 2024 SDSU Excellence in Outreach Award and the 2019 Bradshaw Medal. Her work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing applied solutions for environmental challenges. Perkins is based at the McFadden Biostress Laboratory in Brookings, SD, and leads initiatives like the Perkins Lab and Open PRAIRIE for native plant research.