Alice Long Heikens is Emerita Professor of Biology at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana, where she taught field biology, botany, and conservation courses. Heikens researches endangered, focal, and invasive plants, and conducts quantitative plant ecology studies of barrens and glades. Her passion is mentoring undergraduate students in research on native plants and quantitative studies of natural areas. She also establishes native plantings including prairies and urban forests on public lands and the Franklin College campus for educational purposes. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and a doctorate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.