Jody Shimp

Jody Shimp has been working in Illinois natural areas for the past twenty nine years as a volunteer, researcher, biologist, and administrator.

Currently, he is ​​​​​employed as a regional administrator for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Natural Heritage. He is a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager and sits on the Illinois Prescribed Burn Manager Certification Board and IDNR’s Fire Working Group. Jody completed a M. S. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIUC) in 1996 and has a bachelor’s degree in Zoology also from SIUC. He participated on his first burn in 1987 while employed by the Kane County Forest Preserve District (KCFPD). Jody has Rx and wildfire burning experience while employed by local (KCFPD), state (IDNR) and federal (Shawnee National Forest) agencies.