Alumna preserves Southside Virginia's natural heritage
Walking through the woods of Southside Virginia, Laura Hudson ’16 knows she’s at home, both literally and figuratively.
A native of Halifax County, Hudson grew up loving her time outdoors. Fishing local waters and hunting in the woods near her home weren’t just hobbies, they were formative experiences that shaped how she understood the natural world.
Finding a career that let her stay and find success in her home area was important. Working outdoors, while making sure the natural beauty of the area and the rich resources it offers are well-managed and protected, was ideal.
“I have always enjoyed being outdoors,” Hudson said. “Hunting and fishing were some of my favorite hobbies, so choosing a career path that kept me outdoors was always a goal of mine.”
Hudson is now the Southern Piedmont regional supervisor for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Natural Heritage Program. She oversees stewardship practices on forestland across 11 counties, managing natural areas of statewide significance within the Natural Area Preserve System.
While in high school, Hudson learned that Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment was an option that could help her meet her goals.
“While looking at different colleges and making a decision on where to go and what to major in, I learned that Virginia Tech had a lot of options in the field of natural resources,” she said. “Their programs were reputable, and I found that it was the best fit for me.”
Hudson majored in fish and wildlife conservation and minored in forestry. The classes that most resonated were dendrology with Professor John Seiler and ichthyology with Professor Donald Orth. They gave her practical skills she still uses in the field.
“What I learned from those classes stuck with me the most, and help me answer the questions, ‘What type of tree is this?’ or ‘What type of fish is that?’”
She and her husband, Luke Hudson ’16, collected a few fish specimens still used in the ichthyology lab, she said.
Rising through the ranks professionally to that of a supervisor, Laura Hudson did not get relegated to an office. Her role is primarily field-based and shifts with the seasons.
“As the Southern Piedmont regional supervisor and steward, I spend the majority of my time in the field,” she said. “This time of the year we are carrying out prescribed burns on our Natural Area Preserves and preparing areas to do so safely. This summer we will spend time controlling invasive species and working to manage our open areas.”
Other priorities include coordinating timber harvests and collaborating with partner agencies on deer management programs.
“All of the management that we do on the ground is to promote species diversity and ecological restoration on our Natural Area Preserves,” Hudson said.
She values the public-facing side of her work, which includes explaining why practices such as prescribed burning or timber harvesting are critical to long-term ecosystem health.
“Having the opportunities to teach children about what I do is always rewarding for me,” Hudson said. “Having teenagers that are getting ready to make decisions on where to go to school or what career they want to pursue ask me questions about what I do and how they can follow a similar career path gives me an edifying feeling. Overall, I think enjoying the work that I do is a blessing.”
