Lameace Hussain, Ph.D.

My Story

My entrance into the world of conservation biology came from an intrigue for those animals and communities that often get lost in our stories—those villainized by the media and too often met with violence and misunderstanding. Coming from a psychology background and years of work as a herpetologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, my research focuses on a variety of aspects of herpetofauna, though snakes will always be my favorite (although a good frog or large salamander is always exciting to see). Ranging from population assessments to disease research, my biological training has allowed me to step into a variety of roles. Alongside this, my work explores the human dimensions of herpetofauna: how people and communities interact with these species, how biodiversity intersects with social issues, and the experiences of marginalized communities within ecology and conservation.