Bethany Bradley, professor of environmental conservation, has been elected to the Ecological Society of America’s (ESA) class of 2026 Fellows.

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Fellows are members who have made outstanding contributions to a wide range of fields served by ESA, including, but not restricted to, those that advance or apply ecological knowledge in academics, government, non-profit organizations and the broader society. They are elected for life.

Bethany Bradley is an ecologist whose research focuses on the biogeography of terrestrial plant invasions, including how invasive plant distributions, abundance and impact are affected by climate change. Through science synthesis and communication, she also works to provide invasive species managers with the information they need to develop proactive strategies to control and prevent invasions in a changing climate. Bradley co-founded the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NE RISCC) Network, which conducts actionable research in partnership with practitioners to support climate-smart invasive species management. 

“These Fellows and Early Career Fellows represent a remarkable group of scientists whose contributions are shaping the direction of ecological research and its application,” said ESA President Peter Groffman. “I am delighted to see their achievements recognized by their peers. Their work is expanding how we understand ecological systems while also informing decisions that affect ecosystems and communities. ESA is proud to count them among its members, and we look forward to the continued impact of their work.”

“I am so thrilled to receive this award and I feel incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful students, colleagues and friends who have helped me along the way,” says Bradley. “The development and translation of ecological research to inform natural resource management takes a village and we've built a wonderful one here at UMass Amherst.”