Heather Alexander
Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) Dwain G. Luce Endowed Professor Heather Alexander has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Leader Award from the Association for Fire Ecology (AFE). The AFE grants this award to individuals who have become exceptional leaders in fire ecology research, education or management.
The AFE is an international organization dedicated to advancing fire ecology and forest management knowledge while also educating researchers about the uses of fire in resilient landscape management. Recognizing wildland fire as a critical ecological process, the AFE emphasizes the deep evolutionary and cultural connection between fire, ecosystems and human communities.
Alexander was awarded the AFE’s Distinguished Leader Award due to her exemplary contributions in research, management, teaching and outreach. She was nominated for this award by current and former members of the Forest and Fire Ecology Lab at Auburn where she serves as the principal investigator of the lab.
Alexander has been a member of the CFWE faculty since 2020 as a professor of forest and fire ecology. Her research examines the impact of changing fire regimes on forest dynamics, the influence of tree traits on forest flammability and the consequences of changing forest composition on forest ecosystem functions. Alexander has also spent more than a decade investigating wildfire implications for forest growth and regeneration dynamics in Siberian forests supported by permafrost soils.
At the CFWE, Alexander’s role involves performing research, instructing courses and serving as a mentor to the many students involved with her research program She teaches multiple classes focused on forest fire and forest ecology where she trains and leads undergraduate and graduate students in the applications of forest fire management, while providing them with unique, hands-on opportunities. “She is by far the best supervisor and mentor I have ever had,” one of her students said. “She has created an incredibly collaborative lab where members at all stages learn from and support one another, leading to both stronger science and better-trained people.”
Heather Alexander and her lab execute a prescribed burn.
Outside of the university, Alexander is an active voice in the fire ecology community. She has organized sessions and lectured at the International Fire Ecology Congress and served on the advisory board for the Longleaf Partnership Council of America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative and the User Board for Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers.
“Reflecting back over my career, I feel fortunate to have had so many incredible opportunities,” Alexander said. “I’ve mentored and taught outstanding students, collaborated with bright and thoughtful scientists and traveled from deep South Texas to the Siberian Arctic to witness firsthand the many ways that fire shapes ecosystems. Throughout all my endeavors, my students, colleagues and family provided unwavering support that allowed me to grow both as a person and as a scientist. This award isn’t just about me; it’s about all the people around me who have allowed me to lead. Ultimately, my successes are their successes, and awards like this belong to us all.”
Alexander adds that her lab’s experiences reflect wide-ranging, cross-disciplinary partnerships and student-centered projects that define the organization. Advancing fire ecology research remains central to their purpose.
The breadth and diversity of Alexander’s lab is testimony to her commitment to advancing her field of study and the development of her students, said Janaki Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson Dean in the CFWE.
“We are very proud of Dr. Alexander’s work. She is a globally recognized researcher, exceptional teacher and collaborative leader whose influence extends across disciplines, professions and regions,” said Alavalapati.
For more information on the Auburn Forest and Fire Ecology lab, visit their website or contact Alexander at heather.alexander@auburn.edu.
