Ecologist joins Lake County Forest Preserves

Pati Vitt, Ph.D., recently joined the Lake County Forest Preserves where she will work in the Natural Resources Department. Vitt will serve as the manager of ecological restoration. She previously worked for the Chicago Botanic Garden where she fulfilled several roles, including the senior scientist and manager of conservation programs.

Vitt says she is excited about her new role and has done fieldwork at several local preserves since she moved to Illinois about 20 years ago. She has been involved with rare plant monitoring efforts, especially for some of the rare orchid species found in select preserves in Lake County. "I have always been impressed with the diversity of species found in forest preserves across Lake County and appreciate the management necessary to maintain site quality," said Vitt, who resides in Evanston. "I believe land protection, and the restoration and management of protected lands, are critical to global conservation efforts and that such efforts are more important than ever."

Vitt brings a wealth of knowledge to the Lake County Forest Preserves, said Jim Anderson, director of natural resources. "Pati brings the expertise and experience to determine the effectiveness of our restoration efforts and provide data-driven guidance on future restoration initiatives," Anderson said. "With her knowledge of native plants, we look forward to her input on the establishment of rare plant species in our restored natural areas."

Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in human ecology from College of the Atlantic, a master's degree in botany and plant pathology from the University of Maine, and a doctorate in botany from the University of Connecticut.

Vitt is now an adjunct assistant professor of plant biology and conservation at Northwestern University and has authored many articles on seeds and plants. She played an active role in the Chicago Botanic Garden's Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank that focusses on the restoration of the tallgrass prairie. Seed collection and banking, or storing, is an efficient and cost-effective way to conserve the diversity of plant species well into the future, she said.

Vitt, who describes herself as passionate and creative, said she has always been interested in science, especially biology. When she was an undergraduate student, she decided she wanted to be a botanical ecologist because she appreciated the holistic worldview ecology holds. But she also loved the study of plants--especially plant morphology, which is the study of the physical and external structure of plants. "So I wanted to combine them in new and creative ways, which ecologists now call 'the functional ecology of plants,'" she said.

Vitt says her career allows her the opportunity to be outside in beautiful places. She also enjoys working to ensure these spaces are preserved and maintained for future generations. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, and spending time with her family.