Marijka Haverhals, President

Marijka Haverhals graduated from the University of Montana in 2001 with a BS in Forestry. She worked at the Missoula County Weed District for 7 years as the Weed Education Coordinator. While in Montana, Marijka was on the board of directors for the Montana Weed Control Association and the Montana Native Plant Society. Marijka now works at the University of Idaho for the Center for Research on Invasive Plants and Small Populations (CRISSP) and Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences (PSES). She also serves as chair of the Hawkweed Biocontrol Consortium.

Mark Schwarzlaender, Vice President

Dr. Mark Schwarzlaender received a MS and PhD in Biology from the University of Kiel in Germany. Mark currently works as an Associate Professor at the University of Idaho in Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences. Mark conducts research on biological control of weeds, insect-plant interactions, quantitative impact of specialist herbivore insect species on individual host plant and host plant population level, combined influence of insect herbivore and plant competition on weeds as part of integrated weed management strategies, and non-target effects of biological control agents. Areas of expertise include host-specificity evaluation and bionomics of herbivore insects, and foreign exploration for biological control agents for weeds.

John Gaskin, Secretary

Dr. John Gaskin received his Ph.D. from Washington University & Missouri Botanical Gardens. John is a systematical botanist with USDA ARS and the current research leader of the Pest Management Research Unit at the ARS laboratory in Sidney, MT. John is also an affiliate faculty of the University of Idaho’s Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences. John conducts molecular systematical research in the families Campanulaceae and Tamaricaceae and is renowned for his phylogeographical studies on invasive Tamarix. If you like to learn more about John’s research visit his USDA ARS profile page.

Marilyn Marler, Treasurer

Marilyn Marler received her BS in biology from UC Davis, and MS in ecology from the University of Montana. Marilyn works as the natural areas specialist for the University of Montana, and also serves on the Missoula City Council. She's involved in many Montana conservation groups, including the Montana Native Plant Society and the Montana Natural History Center.