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SIU grad Rohling joins U of I Extension as horticulture educator

Illinois Extension is welcoming Kimberly Rohling to the Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson County unit as a horticulture educator.

In her current role, Rohling coordinates, leads, and trains volunteers in the Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs. She also manages three food donation gardens within the local community.

Rohling earned her master's degree in zoology in 2019 from SIU, where her research focused on the demography, home range and macrohabitat selection of state-threatened ornate box turtles. While earning her master's degree, Rohling received the 2014 Florence M. and Charles L. Foote Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant in Zoology. She earned her bachelor's degree in oceanography and environmental studies from Eckerd College in 2008.

Prior to her time with Extension, Rohling was a conservation worker at Cache River State Natural Area and Dixon Springs State Park for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. She worked as a conservation education representative at the Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center for IDNR.

Rohling also served as a Land of Lincoln/Southern 7 AmeriCorps member at Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, assisting with bald cypress-tupelo swamp restoration, environmental education and biological technician work. Rohling has also worked as a field technician or research assistant for noteworthy organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Great Basin Institute, Lake County Forest Preserve, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Nevada-Reno, University of South Florida and Eckerd College.

Rohling is available to assist the community and answer questions on various horticulture-related topics, including home gardening, birdscaping, wildlife-friendly gardening, invasive species and integrative pest management. Individuals may reach her at 618-687-1727 or kimrohli@illinois.edu.