Research Scientist and Professor
Serving Since
Sandra Rideout-Hanzak received her Ph.D. in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2001. Sandra then began a post-doc position as a research forester with the USDA Forest Service at their Southern Research Station in Athens, GA and later Clemson, SC. In 2005, Sandra joined the faculty at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. She was appointed to the faculty at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2010 where she is currently a professor and research scientist in the Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences and Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, respectively.
As a researcher, Sandra has explored such topics as effects of prescribed burning in various seasons on native grasses in the Coastal Marshes and Prairies and Southern Great Plains ecosystems of Texas; wildfire effects on vegetation, soil erosion, and avian communities; restoration of endangered slender rush-pea habitat; fire effects on hedgehog cactus varieties; and fire effects in southern pine, Piedmont, and Appalachian ecosystems. Currently, Sandra is studying restoration methods of thornscrub plants for ocelot habitat, and season of prescribed burning effects on vegetation ecology and butterfly populations in southern coastal Texas.
Sandra is a certified Professional Wildland Fire Ecologist, and a founding member of the Association for Fire Ecology. She is also a Lead Burn Instructor for the Texas Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager Program.
Research Interest
Fire Ecology
Restoration Ecology
Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat Management