Mike Saxton

Mike Saxton was the manager of ecological restoration and land stewardship at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO for the last decade. He oversaw prescribed fire, invasive species control, native seed collection, and biodiversity driven ecological restoration efforts across 2,400 of varied habitats. Mike has a Master of Science degree in biological geography from Northern Illinois University and conducted his thesis research on herbaceous plant recovery and seed bank dynamics in oak savanna restorations. In January 2026, Mike assumed the role of executive director of Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, a 4,100-acre ecological restoration project in northern Illinois.