Rachel Collins

Dr. Rachel Collins is a faculty member in the Biology Department at Roanoke College, teaching courses such as INQ 250 (Citizen Zoology), INQ 277 (Natural History of the Southern Appalachians), and upper-level ecology courses like BIOL 330 (Community Ecology). Her research focuses on community ecology, species diversity, and ecosystem functions. Key projects include studying the demography of the federally endangered smooth coneflower and the dynamics of non-native earthworm communities in eastern forests. She emphasizes ecological restoration and the interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Her research involves undergraduate students in fieldwork, data analysis, and presentations at professional conferences. Current projects include managing smooth coneflower populations via deer fencing and woody vegetation removal, and investigating earthworm community composition across suburban to rural gradients. Collins collaborates with institutions like the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Collins has published in journals such as Natural Areas Journal and Journal of Forestry, focusing on invasive species theory, endangered plant conservation, and historical forest ecology. She mentors students through summer stipends and academic-year research opportunities, fostering their engagement in ecological research.