Devin Schexnayder

Urban Forestry Coordinator

Devin Schexnayder is excited to join the Texas Trees Foundation as their newest Urban Forestry Coordinator! Hailing from the swamps of Southeastern Louisiana, Devin joins TTF with a wealth of knowledge in propagation, management, and maintenance of trees, landscape and habitat management, and environmental policy. He brings to TTF experience in experimental design, data organization and management (R/GIS/GPS), and community education and engagement.

Prior to joining TTF, he was a practicing wetland ecologist at Louisiana State University where he acquired his Master of Science in Renewable Natural Resources in May of 2024 by studying soil-plant-atmosphere water relations, soil biochemistry, and environmental policy. During his time at LSU, he conducted research on the sensitivity of growth, gas-exchange, and transpiration of inundated baldcypress located in wastewater treating cypress-tupelo swamps to climate-change era atmospheric conditions. Additionally, during this time, Devin directed a grassroots recycling program on the campus of LSU and in St. James Parish, LA, an underserved community between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, which diverted thousands of pounds of plastic and metal from landfills. More fulfilling, the program’s glass-to-sand model diverted over sixteen-thousand pounds of glass material from landfills by placing the newly recycled sand onto the coast of Louisiana to protect LA’s fragile marsh coastline from deterioration. Through both ventures, he has developed a bounty of skills needed for problem solving, project management, and collaboration that he hopes will produce lasting relationships with TTF in the future.

Prior to his time as a wetland ecologist, Devin spent his undergraduate years at Southeastern Louisiana University studying plant biology with a focus on woody plant propagation, management, and maintenance, form and function, and soil chemistry. Devin aspires to make an impact on his community and world by participating in boots-on-the-ground conservationism, environmental stewardship, and inspiring the next generation of environmentalists, foresters, and scientists. During his free time, Devin can be found exploring nature, relaxing in his patio garden, or cooking up a cajun dish. Devin is ecstatic to be part of the team and is ready to laissez les bon temps rouler at TTF.