MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive is set to host its annual Martin Lecture at 7 p.m. on Apr. 8 in Southern Bank Auditorium located in Raper Hall.

This year’s guest lecturer is Dr. Ryan Walsh, Director of Plant Conservation at the Toledo Zoo. His work in plant ecology and conservation has significantly impacted urban prairie restoration and native plant advocacy.

Dr. Walsh, who earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Bowling Green State University in 2013, has spent over a decade at the Toledo Zoo leading the Wild Toledo initiative. Under his direction, Wild Toledo has expanded from a modest program with three on-ground urban prairies to over 100 prairies across northwest Ohio and extending into Tennessee. His work also includes managing a state-licensed native plant nursery and collaborating with public and private entities on native landscape design and installation. In addition, he has been instrumental in working with endangered lepidopteran species and advising municipalities on revising noxious weed ordinances to accommodate native plant growth in residential landscapes.

Established in 1993 by Dr. E. Lee Glover in honor of his former teacher, Mrs. Lorelle Martin, the Martin Lecture has become a prestigious annual event at UMO. Mrs. Martin, who served as Chair of the Department of Science and Mathematics for 30 years before retiring in 1987, was an inspiring mentor to Dr. Glover, ultimately influencing his pursuit of a Ph.D. in biological sciences at the University of Maryland. In 2006, Dr. Glover endowed the lecture series to ensure the continuation of Mrs. Martin’s legacy and her commitment to education and scientific inquiry.

The Martin Lecture, sponsored by UMO’s School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences and the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center, is free and open to the public. For more information about the Martin Lecture, contact Dr. Sara Lahman at [email protected].