Meet Assistant Professor of Biology Sonja Brandt '21

Sonja Brandt ‘21 serves Concordia University, Nebraska as assistant professor of field biology, teaching classes related to organismal biology, natural resources and conservation.  

Brandt has a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art and bachelor of arts degree in biology from Concordia Nebraska and a master of science degree in biology from Fort Hays State University.  

She has served at the university since January 2026 and recently transitioned from a visiting professor role to assistant professor. 

Prior to serving at Concordia, Brandt worked several wildlife and conservation field jobs including monitoring native prairie plants and stream ecosystems with the Missouri Department of Conservation, working with endangered sea turtles on a barrier island in Georgia and working for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on a remote coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  

“I lived and worked on extremely remote Palmyra Atoll for five consecutive months without leaving, where I conducted marine biology surveys of the reef and monitored the nesting populations of seabirds. I also contributed to a project which aims to control invasive coconut palms on the atoll through the use of machetes and handsaws,” she explained. “On Palmyra I also assisted in the monitoring of the Guam Kingfisher, which has recently been introduced to Palmyra after being extinct in the wild for nearly 40 years. My master's thesis focused on how Cliff Swallow feather coloration relates to their colony size, habitat characteristics, and other morphological characteristics of the birds.”  

“I love being able to pass on the knowledge and experiences from my studies and career as a wildlife biologist so that the students can have a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's creation.”

“I love being able to pass on the knowledge and experiences from my studies and career as a wildlife biologist so that the students can have a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's creation,” she said. “It's really cool to see them get excited about plants and animals and realize their role in caring for the natural world. It’s also been fun to chat about possible career paths with some students. I haven't been here for long, but that's something I look forward to doing more in the future.” 

She said Concordia Nebraska is a special place to work, because she is allowed to incorporate her Christian faith and her passion for God’s creation of the natural world into her everyday work.  

“It's a very Christ-centered environment and being surrounded by fellow believers definitely helps nourish my faith,” she said. 

Brandt is the oldest of five children and both of her parents Aaron Brandt ‘91 and Charlotte (Albrecht) Brandt attended the university. She has two brothers Jacob Brandt ‘23 and Andrew Brandt ‘23 who both graduated from Concordia and two sisters Ella Brandt and Leah Brandt who currently attend the university. Her grandfather, Art Albrecht ’55, is in the Concordia Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame for the 1954 men’s track team, and her grandmother Lois (Boerger) Albrecht ’49 also is also an alumna. She also has numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who attended the university. 

When she’s not teaching, she enjoys road trips and camping with family and friends. She enjoys traveling and has been to all 50 states and several other countries. She also enjoys making art, especially photography and drawing. She also plays clarinet in the Seward Municipal Band and enjoys birdwatching. An animal lover, she has two dogs, three cats, one snake, six turtles and quite a few fish. 

The biology program at Concordia University, Nebraska is a home for students who want to pursue their chosen vocation not for the sake of wealth, but for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the people He has placed here for us to serve. Classes and labs are taught by faculty with the highest degrees in the biological sciences who are committed to education and their students.