Scott Herron

Scott Herron is a tenured Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan. He also served as a Visiting Professor of Ethnobotany at the University of Michigan Biological Station from 2003 to 2015.

• Education: PhD in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; BS in Biology from Grand Valley State University.

Dr. Herron specializes in Ethnobotany, Cultural Anthropology, and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, particularly focusing on the Anishinaabek culture (Ojibwe, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Cree, Menominee) in the Great Lakes region. His work bridges traditional subsistence practices with modern ecological research.

His recent publications and presentations highlight collaborations with Indigenous communities, emphasizing wild rice restoration, ethnomycology, and non-timber forest products. Key themes include cultural revitalization, traditional ecological knowledge, and sustainable resource management.

Dr. Herron directs the Wild Rice and Ethnobiology Lab, co-chaired the Native Wild Rice Coalition, and served as President of the Society of Ethnobiology. He actively mentors American Indian students and collaborates with the Ecological Society of America and Open Science Network.

Outside academia, he practices seasonal subsistence activities like wild rice harvesting, maple sugaring, and mycology, integrating these traditions into his personal life.