Dr. Hilary M. Swain has served as the Executive Director of Archbold Expeditions for 23 years. She completed her B.Sc. (1977) and her Ph.D. (1981) in the University of New Castle. Alongside her staff, Dr. Swain is dedicated to long-term research, education, and land management/ conservation programs.

Her research is primarily focused on the relationships between agroecological, economic, and physical factors in grazing lands and their change over time. During her tenure at the Archbold Biological Station, Dr. Swain has received countless awards for her contributions to the scientific community. Dr. Swain also serves as a board member for several organizations, and she holds a graduate faculty appointment at Florida Institute of Technology.