Darla was a 2025 recipient of the black River Audubon Society’s Hog Island Scholarship. This presentation will be based on her experience, focusing on the natural history of the Atlantic puffin while contextualizing the history of puffin conservation efforts within the deeper history of Hog Island Audubon Camp.

Dr. Darla French is a broadly trained biologist with a passion for nature, teaching and science education. Darla has been in higher education for 15 years and currently teaches in the Biology Department at Oberlin College, having previously taught at the University of Pikesville in KY. Past courses taught include introduction to Ecology, Ornithology, Botany, and Restoration Ecology, among many others. Darla grew up in the southern Lorain County, went to the College of Wooster (OH) for her undergraduate education in biology, and then received her master’s and PhD degrees in education and forestry/natural resources, respectively, from Purdue University (IN). In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three cats, birding, gardening, crocheting, hiking, studying Middle Eastern dance, and teaching women’s self defense.