David Harrison

David joined Galveston bay foundation in September of 2025 as a seasonal technician before joining full time staff in January of 2026.

Growing up in the Pineywoods of East Texas, David has spent his entire life exploring a wide range of habitats. This lived experience has left him with deep insights into the wide range of plant communities across the state. After graduating with a BS in Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler, David changed fields, gaining habitat restoration experience with the Texas conservation corps. Thereafter he transitioned into archaeology and wildland fire with the US Forest Service, working closely with the Alabama-Coushatta tribe of Texas, Comanche tribe of Oklahoma, and Jena Band of Choctaw Indians. He then joined the National Parks Service Big Thicket National Preserve assisting with vegetation monitoring, and rare plant conservation.

With GBF, David helps plan and implement habitat management strategies including invasive species removal, habitat monitoring, trail maintenance, native plant growing operations, fuels management, and his favorite, proscribed fire. David is a self-taught botanist and ecologist, drawing on his extensive knowledge and affection for the flora and fauna of the western gulf coastal plain for motivation to continue his work.

In his free time, David enjoys growing native plants and a small garden, geology, antiquing, craft coffee, and a good horror movie, podcast, or book.