Destini Petitt is a first generation small business owner and PhD. She received her PhD in the Infrastructure and Environmental Systems program from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2022. She received her M.S. in Natural Resource Science from the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2018. In 2016, she received a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Lees-McRae College. Her research interests focus on biogeochemical processes of restored headwater streams and she is passionate about understanding how land-use changes impact water quality and how watershed restoration impacts groundwater storage. 

In addition to her education, Destini also has several certifications including stream bank repair, natural resource conflict management, stormwater control system inspection and maintenance, master naturalist, and environmental education.

Destini enjoys exploring the great outdoors through hiking, biking, and kayaking with her partner and pets.

We believe that how we do our work matters as much as what we do. This pledge is our promise to the land, the water, and the communities of Western North Carolina.

We work with the land, not against it: Every project uses least-disturbance practices — hand tools and micro-machinery — to protect the ecosystems we're restoring.

We choose native, always: We prioritize locally grown native plant species that thrive naturally, requiring no irrigation or synthetic fertilizers over their lifespan.

We protect our waterways: We use only natural, biodegradable materials in stream work, and offer rain gardens and stormwater solutions that safeguard WNC's water resources.

We create habitat, not just landscapes: We help property owners earn NC Native Plant, National Wildlife, and Pollinator Waystation certifications — turning private land into refuge for native species.

We ground every decision in science: Our work is guided by research in biogeochemistry, watershed restoration, and water quality — so our solutions are proven, not just promising.

We invest in our community: We proudly support organizations such as the NC Native Plant Society, Sierra Club, Brevard Sustainability Council, and the Arbor Day Foundation because healthy ecosystems require collective action.

When you work with iNDe Ecosystems, you're not just fixing an erosion problem. You're investing in the long-term health of the land.