Avia Huisman is currently a PhD Candidate in Comparative Studies at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. She moved to Florida with her parents when she was five years old and has been exploring its wild places ever since. As a result, she is passionate about helping to preserve Florida's natural ecosystems and restore much of Florida's degraded swamps and wetlands to their natural state. Understanding that public support is key in such efforts, Avia uses her artist's eye to photograph Florida's remaining wild places. She hopes that by sharing Florida's natural beauty with the public that she may inspire those who see her photographs to learn more about Florida's Native Ecosystems and, ultimately, earn their support in protecting them.