The Sierra Nevada Alliance staff consists of 45+ full time staff members.
This includes Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps (SNAP) members, and Sierra Corps fellows. SNAP and Sierra Corps members are placed with host organizations throughout the Sierra.
Jenny Hatch
Executive Director
jenny@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x704
Jenny brings over 15 years of experience leading conservation work, in collaboration with diverse partners, to serve as the Sierra Nevada Alliance’s(SNA) Executive Director. Raised in the Sierra, Jenny is pleased to lead SNA in fulfilling its mission to protect and restore the natural resources of the Sierra Nevada for future generations while promoting sustainable communities. Jenny has partnered with SNA on a variety of projects, including the management of several AmeriCorps member conservation projects. Her career background leading up to this role included work in erosion control, wildlife management, horiticulture as a Master Gardner, initiating the Aquatic Invasive Species prevention and control projects for Lake Tahoe, watershed restoration, and to protect and restore native trout throughout the Northern Sierra. Jenny also has a strong background in fundraising, outreach, advocacy, and management. Jenny has a B.A. in Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Nicole Lutkemuller
Sierra Corps Program Director
nicole@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x708
Growing up in the Sierra Nevada foothills and Lake Tahoe fueled Nicole’s passion for exploring, conserving, and restoring the ecosystems of the Sierras. Nicole brings 8+ years of experience in various conservation planning, project management, outreach and education, and environmental data analysis positions with government, non-profit and private sector organizations. Through these experiences Nicole decided that she wanted to pursue the rest of her career in the non-profit sector and is excited to continue down that path with the Sierra Nevada Alliance. Since completing a B.S. In Environmental Science from Sierra Nevada College in 2012 she has worked for the Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Land Management in NV, Alpine Watershed Group as a SNAP member, and for a private GIS data visualization firm in Truckee while also getting involved in local, state, and federal political organizing. Nicole has served on the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council to Placer County since 2015. She is thrilled to bring her passion for protecting the Range of Light and experience and knowledge of the Sierra’s forest health issues to her position. Nicole enjoys climbing, hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, adventuring with her dogs and partner, Dave, and seeing as much live bluegrass music as possible.
Brooke Boeger
Community Engagement Director
brooke@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x710
Brooke is from Yuba City, CA and has called Tahoe her home for the past 3 years. She has been a SNAP Member for the past two terms, serving one term at Tahoe Environmental Research Center and another term at the Sierra Nevada Alliance as the Recruitment Capacity Member. She studied Anthropology and Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz. Brooke enjoys spending her time outside with her new quarantine pup Mooney, skiing with her friends and riding her bike along the West Shore. She is interested in learning and interpreting people’s stories told by the environment. She is thrilled to stick around and continue working with the Alliance and in the Sierra.
Seth Connolly
Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Program Director
seth@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x703
Since graduating with a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Irvine in 2007, Seth has worked for several nonprofits throughout California on environmental issues related to land use and wildfire recovery. Most of his work has involved capacity-building and program development on behalf of a wide range of communities and stakeholder groups in both urban and rural areas. He has developed and managed several large-scale volunteer programs and has extensive experience building creative partnerships with a variety of military veteran, faith-based, and national service organizations. Originally from Boston, Seth currently lives in Sonora with his wife and two children, and enjoys exploration, travel, and meeting new people.
Rebecca Williams
Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Program Operations Coordinator
rebecca@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x702
Rebecca Williams has had a diverse career in the environmental science and conservation field that began after graduating from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Natural Resource Management and Ecology. After spending several years conducting environmental surveys and writing NEPA documents in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Rebecca relocated to Truckee, CA to find a location that better fit with her passions for mountains and outdoor recreation. Once in the Sierra Nevada, Rebecca worked for a climate change education non-profit organization leading an expedition to Antarctica and then worked for the US Forest Service as a stream/fisheries biologist. Rebecca continued her goal to contribute to the understanding and preservation of our natural resources by working the next 8 years helping to manage the resources of a small community near lake Tahoe focusing on environmental education and outreach, watershed management, bear interactions and various aspects of water utilities. Rebecca hosted many AmeriCorps members during this time and developed a great appreciation for AmeriCorps programs and developed a desire to support its members. After taking some time off full-time work to be a stay-at-home mama to her two children, Rebecca is very excited to work on the SNAP program. In her free time Rebecca focuses on her furry and human family while enjoying hiking, skiing, mountain biking, camping/backpacking, and living her “glamping” lifestyle at her home at 7800’ feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Jodi Schmitz
Finance and Human Resource Director
jodi@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x700
Jodi graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. She moved to the Tahoe region in 2009 to pursue her career in conservation. She worked with the Tahoe RCD in the aquatic invasive species program for six years. She has always had a love and respect for the Tahoe Region since she was young coming up with her family and friends to snowboard. She enjoys boating, snowboarding, hiking, biking, paddle boarding and spending as much time out doors and with her family as possible. On a day to day basis you can find her crafting and running her business at Tahoe Modern Makers.
Alexis Hager
Education and Outreach Coordinator / SNAP Member
alexis@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x711
Lexi grew up in Oakland, California and recently graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Environmental Policy. She started to gain a deeper interest in conservation through childhood visits to national parks and high school trips that focused on ecology and science education. At college, she realized that she was most interested in western land and water policy, and eager to return to the west coast. She is excited for the opportunity to contribute to the protection and restoration of the ecosystem and landscape of the Sierra Nevada at the Sierra Nevada Alliance!
Jackson Realo
CivicSpark Climate Fellow
jackson@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x702
Originally from Baltimore, Jackson graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Biology. He changed paths from medicine after graduating and has since developed a passion for environmental and climate science. Jackson is excited about the opportunity to work as a CivicSpark Fellow to help build climate resiliency in the Lake Tahoe region. With interests in climate mitigation and adaptation, he is looking forward to continuing the work on the Climate Action Plan, and engaging the local community and working with local government to help build capacity to address climate change issues. Jackson’s personal interests include skiing, kayaking, hiking, photography, meditation, and simply enjoying the outdoors.
Phoebe Rogers
Lake Tahoe Ambassador Program Coordinator / SNAP Member
phoebe@sierranevadaalliance.org
530-542-4546 x707
Born and raised in Truckee, CA, Phoebe joins the Alliance with a life-long passion for protecting and advocating for the Sierra and the Tahoe Basin. She recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Psychology and an emphasis in Environmental Studies. Before her current Americorps position as the Program Coordinator for the Lake Tahoe Ambassadors, Phoebe interned for the Alliance and worked closely on communications and outreach projects. When she’s not working with youth ambassadors to protect Lake Tahoe, you can find her sail racing on Wednesday nights, rock climbing in the amazing granite peaks of the Sierra, scheming her next thru-hike, or off riding her bike somewhere in the hills. She’s thrilled to be working with the Alliance this year to preserve the wild spaces she cherishes the most!
Laura Beaton
President
Laura Beaton is a long-time environmental activist turned lawyer, and is now an associate attorney at the law firm of Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP. Her work allows her to protect what she loves, and she frequently litigates cases on behalf of nonprofit organizations and community groups to protect wild places, wild animals, and clean air and water, including in the Sierra Nevada. She is also involved in helping to craft renewable-friendly energy policies across the United States. An avid hiker and outdoorsperson, she quickly fell in love with the Sierra upon moving to California, and she and her partner, Justin (a Nevada City native), get out of San Francisco and up to the Sierra whenever they can.
Christopher Wright
Vice President
Christopher Wright grew up in rural Calaveras County in the Sierra Nevada where his family has owned land for four generations. He spent his childhood hunting, fishing and hiking in the Mokelumne River Watershed. During this time he developed a commitment to preserving the environment as well as a determination to improve the well-being of people living in the Sierra Nevada. He continues to live in Calaveras with his wife and two children. Chris received a Bachelor’s Degree from Humboldt State University where he studied Natural Resources, Planning and Environmental Conservation. He worked in county government as a planner for Mendocino County and returned to Calaveras to work as the first executive director of the Foothill Conservancy where he fought to protect, restore, and sustain the natural and human environment in his childhood home. Elected in 2012, Chris served on Calaveras County Board of Supervisors until January of 2017. Christopher currently runs a small nonprofit Sierra CPR, working to conserve, protect and restore the “Range of Light”
Lynn Baumgartner
Secretary
Lynn moved to the Truckee-Tahoe area in 2010 to work in the environmental non-profit field. She earned her Master’s of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara, studying environmental health and safety practices in the nanomaterials industry. Before attending graduate school, she completed a BA in environmental geology at Western Washington University and served as an AmeriCorps member. She has previously worked in outreach, fundraising, communication, research, and as the director for the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership at the Sierra Nevada Alliance, the region’s only environment-focused AmeriCorps program. Lynn is passionate about environmental stewardship, national service, science literacy, and the Truckee-Tahoe region. When she’s not working, Lynn is likely mountain biking, snowboarding, swimming, or reading.
Steve Haze
Steve and his wife Diane live in the old logging town of Auberry in the foothills of the Southern Sierra in eastern Fresno County. For over 50 years Steve has had a passion for this majestic range. He first worked at summer camps, and took frequent backpacking trips on the John Muir Trail. His favorite trip is Evolution Valley, Kings Canyon National Park. During the 1980’s and 90’s Steve and his wife Diane took volunteer work crews out to work on many of the trails in the backcountry of the Southern Sierra. While in the Bay Area working in the high tech and IT industry, he also served on the Board of Directors of organizations such as the Land Trust of Santa Clara County, Committee for Green Foothills, and Friends of Stevens Creek Trail and Wildlife Corridor. He has been an ardent supporter for over 12 years and the non-profit San Joaquin Valley Leadership Forum, which he founded, is a member of the Alliance. Steve’s passion for the environment, as well as cultural, historical preservation – and the betterment of communities has taken him to Mexico, the Middle East and Southern Africa. Steve currently serves on the Board of Friends of the Peace Parks, USA on behalf of the Peace Parks Foundation, South Africa in which he and his wife are founding members, and is also a member of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) for EcoPeace Middle East. Steve’s “8 to 5 job” is as the District Manager for the Sierra Resource Conservation District in eastern Fresno County.
Julia Kim
Julia Kim leads the Climate Change Team at the Local Government Commission, a Sacramento-based non-profit working to advance transformative policies and build livable communities throughout California. Julia partners with public agencies and community leaders on place-based resilience initiatives while supporting the advancement of the adaptation field at-large. She focuses on the opportunities that climate change presents to redesign existing systems and processes while collaborating with diverse partners to implement equitable, innovative, and comprehensive climate solutions. Her current portfolio includes some of California’s most prominent adaptation programs, including the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA) and the biennial California Adaptation Forum. In addition to her service with SNA, Julia serves on the board of the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) and several advisory committees including UCLA’s Climate Change Heat Impacts Community Advisory Committee and the 2019 California Climate Action Planning Conference Steering Committee. Julia earned a B.A. in political science and philosophy, and an M.P.P. in environmental policy and international security/economic policy, both from the University of Maryland.
Stephen Smallcombe
Steve is a retired scientist now living with his wife Rosemarie in Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park. Steve received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from U.C. Irvine with an emphasis on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and then moved to Pasadena where he was a Senior Research Fellow on the Research Faculty at the California Institute of Technology. In 1974 Steve moved from academia to private industry with Varian Associates in Palo Alto, a major manufacturer of scientific instruments. Steve’s first real taste of the Sierra Nevada high country was when his research group at Caltech took on a 110-mile section of the John Muir Trail in 10 days without use of cached supplies, including a hike to the top of Split Mountain – one of the 14,000+ foot peaks in the Sierra. Now in retirement, Steve and Rosemarie have built a “green” home in Mariposa. In this case, “retirement” for Rosemarie includes serving as a County Supervisor; and Steve stays busy helping a variety of local environmental and community organizations. Steve uses his background in science to help educate the local community about climate change and things we can do to mitigate it. Currently Steve is heavily involved in dealing with the tree mortality issue in the Southern Sierra and trying to find beneficial use of the dead trees via generation of bioenergy and biochar – a way of sequestering forest carbon rather than burning and releasing that carbon. Steve and Rosemarie has enjoyed the Alliance Annual meetings and Steve is excited to now be on the Board of Directors.
Each year, the Sierra Nevada Alliance places 28 AmeriCorps members with partner conservation organizations throughout the Sierra Nevada. During their terms of service, members restore and monitor impaired Sierra watersheds, educate and outreach to Sierra residents and visitors on environmental issues, and recruit and manage volunteers for a variety of programs.
Kelley Ahlers
Position: Watershed Monitoring Technician
Host Site: South Yuba River Citizens League
Kelley studied Environmental Science at The Ohio State University and worked as an ecology research assistant. She studied the population dynamics of vulnerable species of solitary bees in central Ohio. In her free time, she applied her studies by helping local environmental nonprofits plan and organize restoration projects. She is so excited to be working at SYRCL. Kelley loves to hike, ski, and travel.
Celeste Argueta
Position: Volunteer Coordinator
Host Site: Sequioa Riverlands Trust
Celeste Argueta was raised in Visalia, California and is a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) with a degree in Environmental Studies. During her time at UCSB, Celeste participated and held leadership positions in multiple environmental organizations such as Student’s for Food Justice, the Environmental Affairs Board, and Calpirg. In addition, she interned for the County of Santa Barbara Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division as Organics Waste Intern, focusing on reducing food waste in Santa Barbara County. Celeste tries to spend most of her time outdoors by either kayaking, hiking, or rock climbing and introducing many of her friends to the beauty of the outdoors. Celeste is so excited to join the SNAP program and continue to help protect the outdoors!
Alan Cai
Position: Sierra Field Technician
Host Site: Trout Unlimited
Alan grew up in San Diego, California. He is a recent graduate of the University of California, Merced. As a master’s student at UC Merced, he researched operational decision-making at hydropower facilities and environmental mitigation measures for river ecosystem health. Prior to this, Alan studied at UC Berkeley, and completed internships in applied ecosystem science and land use policy in the San Francisco Bay Area and Washington state. He is generally interested in using the tools of science and policy to better manage ecosystems, particularly rivers and wetlands, for multiple objectives.
Alexandra Carey
Position: River Scientist
Host Site: Sierra Streams Institute
I am the 2020-21 SNAP member for Sierra Stream Institute in Nevada City. I worked in freshwater food web and ecophysiology labs during college. I’m excited to explore the Yuba River during my year of service!
Justin Cuneo
Position: Field Assistant
Host Site: Inyo County Water District
Justin is a recent graduate of California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, where he received his bachelor's degree in Environmental Management and Protection. While he hails from San Francisco, he loves the Sierra and is excited to serve the community of Inyo County. His passions include hiking, running, and gardening.
McKenzie Dale
Position: COSA Education Coordinator
Host Site: Bishop Paiute Tribe
McKenzie originally hails from the rainy forests of the Pacific Northwest where she lived in Portland, OR from the day she was born until after graduating from Portland State University in 2016 with a degree in Linguistics. Through working for her university’s outdoor program, she realized that she likes outdoor education even more than Linguistics and since 2017 she has been working as an outdoor educator for a variety of organizations and schools located all up and down the Sierra Nevada mountain range. McKenzie is curious about the relationship between land and communities; she believes that interacting with our environment has the capacity to teach us many lessons and that nature tends to bring out the best in people. She is looking forward to serving with the SNAP program as a way to learn specific strategies for land stewardship and for the opportunity to give care to the places that she loves so dearly. Some of McKenzie’s favorite activities include rock climbing, ski touring, watercolor painting, garden growing, and singing really loud alone in the car.
Jamie Fong
Position: Volunteer Coordinator
Host Site: Sierra State Parks Foundation
Jamie's childhood experiences of hiking and backpacking throughout the Sierra mountains and foothills helped foster a special kinship with these landscapes and the outdoor enthusiasts who share equal reverence for natural spaces. These experiences that she holds close to her heart have undoubtedly influenced the trajectory of her most recent academic and personal endeavors. While earning her Bachelors of Science in Recreation and Natural Resource Management from California State University, Sacramento, Jamie discovered her zeal for nonprofit organizations that unite conservation and community. Jamie has volunteered with nonprofit organizations in Sacramento, Davis, and Roseville in various capacities; all in which reinforced the fulfillment that she derives from participating in work that brings her love of people and nature together for the betterment of all. In her free time, you can catch her learning how to rock climb (despite being afraid of heights!), kayaking, trail running, and indulging in other new outdoor pursuits. Jamie also treasures her down-time by engaging in activities such as gardening, reading, experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes, working on a puzzle, teaching yoga, and writing fictional and nonfictional short stories that she may be too shy to share.
Baylee Goodwin
Position: Education Program Assistant
Host Site: Tahoe Environmental Research Center
Baylee was born and raised in Lake Tahoe, CA where her love for nature and wildlife developed at a young age. Her passion for animals followed her to Oregon where she graduated with a degree in Zoology from Oregon State University. Her plan has always been to work in wildlife conservation with the goal of saving endangered species. During her time at OSU, Baylee enjoyed volunteering at the local wildlife rehabilitation center, the OSU goat club, and a snake research laboratory on campus. She is always happiest when working with animals in any capacity. After graduating, Baylee moved to Costa Rica for a wildlife conservation internship where she worked with jaguars, sea turtles, and primates. This internship taught her how important conservation and education are to preserving vital ecosystems. Baylee is very excited to move home and join the SNAP team in educating people on the importance of the natural world.
Anne Graham
Position: Education Program Associate
Host Site: Tahoe Environmental Research Center
Anne was born and raised in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina falling in love with the outdoors while backpacking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Growing up she always thought she was interested in studying medicine, but in undergrad quickly found herself drawn to her ecology classes. While pursuing her degree in Environmental Science from Santa Clara University, Anne was highly involved in her university’s outdoor adventure program spending a great amount of time exploring the Sierra Nevada. Anne is returning to the SNAP program for a second year to continue her service with UC Davis TERC. Anne is interested in environmental justice issues, climate change, hydrology, and drought management practices getting to work on a number of projects in these areas in her first year of service. Anne also enjoys kayaking, hiking, doing crossword puzzles, and adding to her funky sock collection. She is excited to continue her work with TERC and continue to serve in the Sierra Nevada in the coming year!
Alexis Hager
Position: Education and Outreach Coordinator
Host Site: Sierra Nevada Alliance / Sierra Club
Lexi grew up in Oakland, California and recently graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Environmental Policy. She started to gain a deeper interest in conservation through childhood visits to national parks and high school trips that focused on ecology and science education. At college, she realized that she was most interested in western land and water policy, and eager to return to the west coast. She is excited for the opportunity to contribute to the protection and restoration of the ecosystem and landscape of the Sierra Nevada at the Sierra Nevada Alliance!
Becky Hansen
Position: Sierra Cascade Coordinator
Host Site: Trout Unlimited
Becky was raised in Pennsylvania and is a recent 2020 graduate of Shippensburg University where she earned a B.S. in Geoenvironmental Studies with minors in Biology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Since graduating, Becky has served as an AmeriCorps member for the Bureau of Land Management in Billings, Montana and has worked on agricultural surveys as a GPS Technician in her home state. Becky enjoys working with the public through environmental outreach and education and creating maps with various GIS software. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and exploring new places as much as possible. Becky is very excited about her SNAP position and is looking forward to broadening her horizons and learning new skills as a Sierra Cascade Coordinator with Trout Unlimited!
James Hart
Position: Forest Health Specialist
Host Site: Tuolumne River Trust
James will be serving this year as a Forest Health Specialist with the Tuolumne River Trust. As a native of Tidewater, Virginia, the mountains of California will be a new and exciting place to work and explore. James graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019 with a degree in Conservation Biology, focusing on botany and forest ecology. After graduating, he took part in a short-term position at a salmon hatchery in Alaska and an AmeriCorps term in eastern Washington State. James looks forward to serving in the Sierra Nevada over the coming year and learning about the relationships between fire ecology and restoration work. When he’s not working, you can find him cycling around, working on some woodworking projects or playing music.
Shannon Hedge
Position: Stewardship Coordinator
Host Site: South Yuba River Citizens League
Shannon grew up in the suburbs around Houston, Texas where she spent spent most days outside exploring the swamplands she called home. She obtained a bachelors degree in Evolution and Ecology at The Ohio State University and helped work in diversity programming as an ambassador of the multicultural center. She found her true love of outreach while in graduate school at Humboldt State University as a teaching associate and volunteer coordinator for the citizen science program FrogWatch. She is excited to combine her passions of environmental conservation and working with the community at SYRCL. Outside of work, she can often be found cooking, crafting, or looking for animals outside.
Robert Heim
Position: Forest Health Specialist
Host Site: Tuolumne River Trust
As a child growing up in northern California, Robert developed a deep appreciation for the forests of the Sierra Nevada while backpacking on the John Muir Trail. Robert is a recent graduate from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UC Santa Barbara, where he studied Conservation Planning and had a focus in Strategic Environmental Communication. While completing his master's degree, Robert interned with Lost Padres ForestWatch, where he used ArcGIS to map illegal off-road vehicle sites in the Los Padres National Forest. This experience instilled Robert with an awareness of the threats to public lands, and motivated him to help protect forests that provide habitat for wildlife and connect people to the outdoors. As a Forest Health Specialist with the Tuolumne River Trust, Robert looks forward to working with a dedicated team on forest management and wildfire resilience projects in the Stanislaus National Forest.
Nico Hillman
Position: Watershed Steward and Outreach Assistant
Host Site: Feather River Land Trust
Nico will be serving with AmeriCorps as a Watershed Steward and Outreach Assistant for the Feather River Land Trust. He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in June 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Earth and Soil Sciences emphasizing on watershed management and groundwater hydrology. In his free time, he enjoys preparing meals for friends and family, swimming, and gardening.
Aliya Ingersoll
Position: Restoration Coordinator
Host Site: South Yuba River Citizens League
Aliya grew up in Nevada City, California and spent her childhood backpacking with her family in the Sierras, swimming in the Yuba, and occasionally ditching class to go backcountry skiing with her dad after a good snowstorm. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she studied coevolution and mutualism between insects and plants in the John Thompson Laboratory. She fell in love with botany while completing a field research project on serpentine endemics in Big Sur, and she has since worked as a botanical technician and scientific communicator at Joshua Tree National Park and for the BLM throughout the sage steppe of eastern Oregon. She is delighted to be back in Nevada County doing community-supported science with SYRCL. When not serving the Sierra, Aliya can be found gardening, playing her fiddle or banjo, baking bread, painting, tinkering with code projects, and dreaming of building a cob house.
Helen Kesting
Position: Sierra Field Technician
Host Site: Trout Unlimited
Helen was raised in Olympia, Washington and studied environmental science at the University of Washington. During college, she conducted research on insect herbivory at Mount St. Helens and volunteered at an otter conservation center in Brazil. After graduation, she moved to Lake Tahoe to be a ski instructor and fell in love with the Sierra Nevada mountains. She spends her free time running, rock climbing, hiking, mountaineering, and skiing.
Audrey Mahinan
Position: Stewardship Specialist
Host Site: Sequioa Riverlands Trust
Audrey grew up in the small agrarian town of Delano, CA. At UCLA, she studied biology with a minor in conservation biology, so she wanted to pursue a career in conservation and environmental resource management. She then volunteered as an AmeriCorps member for the American Conservation Experience in Southern California for over a year, where she maintained trails throughout the mountainous ranges in California and performed habitat restoration in the Mojave Desert. Working with ACE, she was able to better appreciate the beauty of the outdoors and the arduous physical work necessary to conserve it. When she’s not hiking outdoors, she’s spending time inside illustrating and designing characters.
Elise Matera
Position: Education Program Assistant
Host Site: Tahoe Environmental Research Center
Elise is from Chapel Hill, NC and spent the first half of her life in Cleveland, OH. She graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY with a degree in Environmental Studies with focuses in Biology, Women’s Studies, and English. She is passionate about environmental and social justice. She is coming most recently from a job in sustainability and zero waste near Vail, Colorado and is excited to move even farther west. She spent a semester abroad in Zanzibar, Tanzania and studied human impacts on mangrove forests. She ran cross country and track in college and loves to run, hike, and camp.
Kyle McNeil
Position: River Monitoring Coordinator
Host Site: South Yuba River Citizens League
Kyle grew up in the suburbs outside Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the arid chaparral environment, he found the wild landscapes in National Geographic magazines fascinating, sparking his interest in the natural environment. During his undergraduate studies at UC Davis, he volunteered to reduce food waste with Food Recovery Network and interned at Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory assisting with the endangered white abalone captive breeding program. After graduating, he moved to Sacramento to work at the State Water Resources Control Board to focus on municipal stormwater permitting. Now, Kyle is excited to transition into a more community focused water quality position at SYRCL. In his free time, Kyle enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing board games with friends.
Anya Obrez
Position: Program Assistant and Outreach Specialist
Host Site: Tahoe Resource Conservation District
Anya will be serving as the Program Assistant and Outreach Specialist for the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. She has experience in delivering holistic, sustainable and innovative projects in cities across the world including Chicago, Ljubljana and the City of London. Her education is in design, where she graduated from Goldsmiths University of London. She is excited to apply her design skills during her time as a SNAP member and having the opportunity to learn more about conservation and environmental management within the Lake Tahoe Basin. On warm and sunny days you can find Anya hiking, skiing or attempting to find a wave to surf.
Madeleine Page
Position: Forest Health Specialist
Host Site: Tuolumne River Trust
Madeleine will be serving as the Forest Health Specialist with the Tuolumne River Trust. Originally from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, Madeleine grew up with a deep love of nature and appreciation of the outdoors. Madeleine recently graduated from Oberlin College with degrees in Environmental Studies and Sociology and is passionate about conservation and increasing access to the outdoors for all. After working at REI since graduating, Madeleine is excited to spend time outdoors and learn about forest health and management. Outside of work Madeleine can be found hiking, running, and baking bread.
Peter Rody
Position: Watershed Steward and Outreach Assistant
Host Site: Feather River Land Trust
Peter’s roots lie in the foothills and high-country of Colorado where he discovered his love for the natural world at a young age. While attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO for Environmental Geoscience, he spent his summers working in Southeast Alaska. It was then that he found his passion for environmental restoration, healthy watersheds and small communities. A stint with the Forest Service took him around the western US, but he is excited for his first term serving in California as the Watershed Steward and Outreach Assistant with Feather River Land Trust. Here, he hopes to learn more about the role of land trusts working towards conservation and environmental health. In his free time he enjoys mountain biking, backpacking, fly fishing, and woodworking.
Phoebe Rogers
Position: Lake Tahoe Ambassador Program Coordinator
Host Site: Sierra Nevada Alliance
Born and raised in Truckee, CA, Phoebe joins the Alliance with a life-long passion for protecting and advocating for the Sierra and the Tahoe Basin. She recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Psychology and an emphasis in Environmental Studies. Before her current Americorps position as the Program Coordinator for the Lake Tahoe Ambassadors, Phoebe interned for the Alliance and worked closely on communications and outreach projects. When she’s not working with youth ambassadors to protect Lake Tahoe, you can find her sail racing on Wednesday nights, rock climbing in the amazing granite peaks of the Sierra, scheming her next thru-hike, or off riding her bike somewhere in the hills. She’s thrilled to be working with the Alliance this year to preserve the wild spaces she cherishes the most!
Kimberly Romero
Position: Reforestation Specialist
Host Site: Butte County RCD
Kimberly Romero was born and raised in Southern California. As a child, she traveled to the Sierra Nevada often as part of her family's annual trip to Yosemite National Park where she developed a deep passion for the natural world.
With an emphasis on protecting the natural world, she completed a Bachelor's degree at San Jose State University in Environmental Studies. When she wasn't busy studying, she taught wilderness skills and introduced many students to the outdoors for the first time in her position as an Outdoor Adventures Leader. She also founded an environmental sustainability club on campus with fellow dedicated classmates.
After graduating, she began applying her newly acquired degree working for her local FireSafe Council. Kimberly is excited to join the Butte County RCD, allowing her to broaden her knowledge of conservation and resource management. You can catch her enjoying the outdoors, sailing, or volunteering at a local food pantry in her free time.
Daisy Schadlich
Position: River Assessment & Restoration Assistant
Host Site: American Rivers
Daisy hails from the North Bay, but spent most of her time in Truckee through her teen years. Growing up, she enjoyed her summers of hiking, camping, and fly fishing with her family and her winters of ski racing. She became a river guide while studying Sustainable Environmental Design and Food Systems at UC Berkeley and decided she needed to take action to protect the rivers she loves. She did this first by working in a river food web ecology lab in college, then by advocating for a sustainable water future in California, and most recently by helping restore the coho salmon population in Sonoma County. Daisy is thrilled to take the next step by serving with American Rivers this year and looks forward to learning from her coworkers and fellow AmeriCorps members. This is a photo of her on one of her favorite rivers, the Rogue River.
Elise Shea
Position: Conservation Assistant
Host Site: El Dorado County & Georgetown Divide RCDs
Elise is a curious, creative and kind soul who values both community and solitude, particularly when it comes to experiencing nature. She grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, discovering a love of the outdoors through city parks, apple orchards, sandy beaches and summer camp. Her affinity for math, physics, geology and warm weather led her to move across the country and study civil engineering at the University of Southern California. Upon graduating, Elise worked in the construction industry before taking the leap into outdoor education and conservation. Outside of work, Elise enjoys hiking, camping, running, stargazing, playing ukulele and drinking hot beverages.
Gabrielle Tribelli
Position: Education Coordinator
Host Site: Eastern Sierra Land Trust
Gabrielle Tribelli is from Northern California, from the mountains to the coast. She studied Literature as an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz. Upon graduating she decided to meld her love for written word and teaching with her pull to the natural environment. She is serving as Education Coordinator with the Eastern Sierra Land Trust and looks forward to exploring a new part of the Sierra Nevada. As an outdoor educator, Gabrielle sees the importance in informing future generations on how to protect, care for, and understand both the history and future of the land (while simply getting dirty, curious, and being fearless outside). She enjoys learning about the world by being outside and applying creativity found in nature to her own artwork.
Lindsey VanderMolen
Position: Education Technician
Host Site: Sequioa Riverlands Trust
Lindsey VanderMolen is serving with AmeriCorps as the Education Technician at SRT. Lindsey grew up in Renton, Washington, not far from where she graduated college at the University of Washington in Seattle, with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. While attending school, she worked with several outdoor education and restoration organizations to further her passion for conservation. Lindsey has also worked for the US Forest Service as a Forest Protection Officer in Mt. St. Helen’s and as a Wilderness Ranger in Bridgeport, California. Being immersed in the Sierra High Country in Bridgeport led Lindsey to fall in love with the Sierra Nevada Mountains. When her term with the Forest Service was over, she moved to San Luis Obispo and began working for SLO County Parks, but was drawn back to the mountains. She now resides in Visalia, California and is working hard to teach young people to gain a deeper appreciation for the environment. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, drawing, and exploring the wilderness.
Sierra Corps is a Fellowship program that aims to increase workforce capacity for organizations and agencies implementing forest health and natural resource management projects throughout the Sierra. The program creates leaders in the conservation field by providing technical trainings and meaningful career development opportunities through the Fellowship positions.
Brian Pope
Position: Ecological Reserves Project Lead
Host Site: CSU Chico Ecological Reserves
Brian is working through 2021 with the CSU Chico Ecological Reserves System where he will fill a leadership role in developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on ecological stewardship projects that focus on forest restoration. This position is funded through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund.
Brian returns to his college town, Chico, CA as a Sierra Corps Forestry Fellow at CSU, Chico Ecological Reserves. He is putting his experience to use helping facilitate forest restoration projects on-site and as an active partner with state and local organizations in the region. Brian is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri. After receiving his BS in Archeology and Anthropology from Missouri State University, He left the Midwest pursue a practical education in ‘Land Ethics’. He proudly worked seasonally with the Park Service, BLM and Forest Service at both illustrious and hole-in-the-wall locations. Work took him to every West Coast state, Idaho, Arizona and a few places in between. Like many of his Sierra Corps cohort, the Sierra Nevada Mountains drew him in and he spent the better part of a decade working and leading Wilderness trail crews from the Siberian Outpost in Sequoia NP to Red Peak Pass in Yosemite NP. In the winter months, he studied Environmental Policy and Planning at California State University, Chico.
Brian pivoted to work as tradesperson, managing facilities, both in Canyonlands NP and Redwoods NP. He then combined his hands-on and analytical skill-sets as Natural Resource Specialist, coordinating the trails and wilderness area programs for Olympic National Forest. Brian received his 10-year pin for his Federal Service in stewardship to Public Lands. He spends almost all of his spare time wrangling a two-year-old, chickens and a couple of dogs. He warmly reminisces on his vagabond days when lounging in alpine meadows, running rivers and climbing peaks was the norm.
Craig Christensen
Position: Field Operations Coordinator
Host Site: Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions
Craig will work through 2021 helping lead private and public fuel reduction contracting, development and expansion of the work force training program, administration of field personnel and participation in Amador Calaveras Consensus Group, a nationally-recognized and diverse all-lands forest collaborative group. Craig's position is funded through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund.
My name is Craig Christensen and I am an enrolled member of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and
California. I was born and lived most my life in California. Currently I am a Foreman of the Calaveras
Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS) Fuels Crew. I’ve been a sawyer for CHIPS for 4 years but have a
lifetime of experience in the forest. Most recently I’ve been privileged with becoming a Fellow Through
the Sierra Corps Forestry Fellowship Program. Stewardship and Forest Restoration for future
generations is deeply ingrained into the core values I grew up with. Outdoor life has defined my
experience tremendously. Activities I enjoy are camping, hunting, fishing, snowboarding, hiking,
swimming, and as well as traditional Washoe practices. I am father first and foremost, and a family
man by trade. I'm extremely honored to bring a traditional Washoe stewardship approach back to our
ancestral homelands for the benefit of all. Looking forward to the future, I am hopeful and optimistic for a
healthy, sustainable Earth.
Kelsey Glastetter
Position: Project Coordinator
Host Site: Plumas Corporation
Kelsey will work through 2021 with the Eastern Sierra Branch of Plumas Corporation, focusing on the Eastern Sierra Climate and Communities Resilience Project. This is a large-scale collaborative forest restoration project surrounding the Town of Mammoth Lakes. Her position is funded by the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund.
Kelsey’s passion for protecting natural resources stems from her love of being outside. She strives to drive change in sustainability and stewardship of the environment. Her love for the outdoors led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Management and Protection at Cal Poly. She ventured from her hometown of Orange to San Luis Obispo, where she embraced the Cal Poly motto, Learn By Doing. Kelsey worked as a research technician on the Sudden Oak Death Project, spent a quarter studying Ecology and Conservation Biology in Peru, and picked up a minor in Biology. After her time in San Luis Obispo, Kelsey dipped her toes in many streams, leading her to work as a field crew leader in the Chuska Mountains of the Navajo Nation, travel, guide trips that empowered teens through outdoor adventure and environmental education, and work on an aspen ecology project in the Eastern Lake Tahoe Basin. At the beginning of 2021, Kelsey moved with her partner, Brendan, to June Lake. They are very excited to be living and working in the Eastern Sierra. Kelsey is honored to be a part of the ESCCRP team and is looking forward to building more resilient landscapes within the Inyo National Forest.
Luis Vidal
Position: Forest Restoration Fellow
Host Site: Eldorado National Forest and American Forests
Luis Vidal is working through 2021 with the Eldorado National Forest and American Forests out of Georgetown through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund. Cash match for his position has been provided through a grant from the Bella Vista Foundation via American Forests. Luis's work will focus on reforestation efforts and regeneration research in the King Fire burn scar.
Luis was born in Lima, Peru and grew up in Northern Utah where he enjoyed running and road biking on country roads. During college he became interested in the natural sciences after adventuring on solo trips into the Great Salt Lake Desert. His interest in gaining an understanding the land and earth around him led to Luis graduating from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Geoscience in the summer of 2018. He then left for the hills in the Northern Sierra Nevada where he spent most of 2019 as a Natural Resource Assistant for the Plumas National Forest. There he discovered his passion for the Sierra Nevada along with his interest in forestry which he now pursues. Luis also enjoys traveling to historical sites, hot springs, and montane lakes. When not outside he enjoys reading books on science, philosophy, and classic literature.
