The Gila Native Plant Society will meet at 7:00 pm on Friday, March 20, in Room 219 of Harlan Hall on the Western New Mexico University campus.

Dr. Jose Herrera will give a presentation, Fungi Inhabiting the Roots of Native Arid Land Grasses.

Dr. Herrera obtained a B.S. and M.S. in biology from Northern Illinois University and a Ph.D. at Kansas State University. He joined the faculty in the Department of Biology at Truman State University where he served as chair of the department from 2009 until 2011. During his tenure at Truman, Dr. Herrera collaborated with undergraduate students, publishing many articles characterizing the microbial community structure and function of root-associated fungal endophytes. From 2011 until 2013 he served as Program Director at the National Science Foundation in the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE). Dr. Herrera is currently Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western New Mexico University.

The public is invited to attend free of charge. Refreshments will be served after the program.

The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promote education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest, to encourage the preservation of rare and endangered plant species and to support the use of suitable native plants in landscaping. For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit www.gilanps.org .