Kris Hulvey: Founder & Chief Scientist
Contact: kris@workinglandsconservation.org
As an ecologist and founder of WLC, my goal is to improve conservation of US wild and working landscapes by finding science-based solutions to management challenges that require collaborative action among stakeholders. I have over 20 years of experience in ecosystem management, restoration, and the links between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being. I have worked in California grasslands, Australian working lands, the US Channel Islands, Alaska, and the US Intermountain West. For all of this work, I draw on ecological theory to inform field experiments and guide data syntheses, and draw on interdisciplinary experience to develop partnerships with landowners, managers, and other stakeholders leading to novel management outcomes.
Megan K. Nasto: Research Scientist
Contact: megan@workinglandsconservation.org
As an ecologist and avid user of public lands, Megan is excited to work with stakeholders to balance the many resources public lands provide. Whether these resources are environmental, cultural, recreational, or financial in scope, she strives to provide a quantitative framework for decision-making that benefits all those who call themselves “public land owners”. While Megan has worked in a variety of systems from the Central American tropics to the Rocky Mountain west, she has become increasingly interested in working lands. These lands - and the soil at the heart of them - provide individuals with a means of living, communities with a source of pride, and society with a sense of well-being. As such, Megan values a strong and mutual relationship with Earth, and will work tirelessly to help us all become better stewards of the land.
Elana Feldman: Project Manager
Contact: elana@workinglandsconservation.org
Elana is an ecologist deeply interested in human interactions with the land, particularly how we can work together to maintain natural areas for a broad spectrum of uses. Her background is in land management with a particular focus on invasive plant removal and native plant restoration. Elana has worked in a variety of systems including forest plant communities in New England and wetland plant communities in the Great Salt Lake watershed. She is very excited to apply her skills to studying rangelands and building deeper partnerships with people who are similarly dedicated to managing natural resources.
Kendall Beals: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Contact: bealsk@arizona.edu
Kendall is an ecologist with expertise in plant-soil interactions, microbial ecology, and soil carbon cycling. She has worked in a wide variety of ecosystems throughout the US, including mostly recently Southeastern deciduous forests and Midwestern tallgrass prairies. She is passionate about using rigorous science in conjunction with stakeholder partnerships to solve read-world environmental challenges. Kendall is excited to bring her research expertise to rangeland systems of the Intermountain West. In collaboration with the Lien lab at the University of Arizona, landowners, and conservation practitioners, she is working to identify the effects of restoration on carbon sequestration in rivers and streams on rangelands within Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. An important goal of this work is to quantify the potential economic value of carbon sequestration that can be expected from various riparian restoration practices using estimated carbon market prices.
Katie Siesel: Outreach Coordinator
Contact: katie@workinglandsconservation.org
Katie moved to Utah to study ecology at Utah State University and fell in love with exploring and recreating on our public lands. A summer spent as a river guide in Montana uncovered her passion for relationship-building and science communication. Since then, Katie has explored how these concepts are at the heart of land management, especially western working lands. She is passionate about working towards collaborative partnerships to create innovative solutions, balancing sustainable uses of natural resources for both economic and ecological prosperity.
Past Employees
Jessie Danninger
Project Manager (2018-2023)
Jessie was a founding team member of Working Lands Conservation and integral to our operations and data collection programs. She has since moved to a position at the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands. We will miss her passion and dependability, but excited to see how she will continue to positively impact public lands management.
Paige Lewis: Soils Crew Lead (2023)
Paige graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and a minor in Construction Management. She grew up outside of Boulder, Colorado, and loved spending time in nature with her family. Paige’s hobbies include camping, hiking, baking, cooking, and crafts. She is eager to continue her education through research opportunities, and hopes to return to school to pursue a master’s program. Soil health, climate change, and sustainability are specific fields of study that interest her.
Taylor Jacobson: Field Technician (2021, 2023)
Taylor is currently a student at Utah State University studying Rangeland Ecology and Management. She is originally from Randolph, and has personal ties to Three Creeks. Taylor enjoys working on her family's cattle ranch and exploring the outdoors with her friends and dogs. She is very excited to be working in the field this summer!
Anthony Villalobos: Field Technician (2023)
Anthony is currently pursuing a Bachelor degree at Utah State University in Conservation and Restoration Ecology. He was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where he has been cultivating a love for the outdoors and natural resources since he was a child.
Logan Ballard: Vegetation Crew Lead (2022), Field Technician (2021)
Logan will be starting his junior year, studying Rangeland Ecology and Management. He is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree at Utah State University and is excited to work in the natural resources field. He grew up ranching in Nevada and has always had a passion for the outdoors.
Nathan Omer: Field Technician (2021 - 2022)
Nate is an undergraduate student at Utah State University in the Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems program. Over many years, Nate has developed a special appreciation for rivers, lakes, and wildflowers which has led him to his field of study and what he hopes to be a career path in the places that he loves.
Chase Gunnell: Soils Crew Lead (2022)
Chase graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management and minors in GIS and German. Since his time at WLC, he has worked with USU Extension on the design and development of EcoRestore Utah. This program offers state-specific ecological restoration resources for a variety of stakeholders
Kasen Lentz: Field Technician (2022)
Kasen graduated from Snow College with an Associates of Science with an emphasis in veterinary medicine. He is currently enrolled at Utah State University, studying Wildlife Ecology and Management.
Kaylee Long: Field Technician (2022)
Kaylee is an undergraduate student at Utah State University studying Conservation and Restoration Ecology with a minor in Mathematics. She has always loved being outside and learning and is excited to learn more about and work in natural resources.
Isaac Rath: Field Technician (2022)
Isaac graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt with three associates, five certificates, and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management and Conservation. After his summer on the WLC crew, Isaac moved to Yellowstone National Park where he now works as a wildlife guide. In the future, he plans to return to school to continue working towards a Masters and PhD in Animal Behavior.
Kyle Todecheene: Field Technician (2021)
Kyle graduated from Utah State University with a Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem degree with a minor in GIS. After working with WLC, Kyle took a job installing beaver dam analoges (BDAs) with a local restoration consulting firm.
Elise Riley: Crew Lead (2020), Field Technician (2019)
Elise graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Ecology and Management with minors in Sustainable Systems and Horticulture. She completed her own undergraduate research studying how climate and environmental changes have impacted the phenology of plants in forest meadows.
Chelise Dever: Field Technician (2020)
Chelise is a graduate from Utah State University with a Bachelors of Science in Geography with a human-environmental emphasis. She is interested in furthering her education in Wildlife Biology and Botany.
Hanna Kirkland: Field Technician (2020)
Hanna graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management. She is currently working as a field biologist monitoring levee construction projects in Sacramento, CA.
Megan LeMaire: Crew Lead (2019), Field Technician (2018)
Megan graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Public Health. After working for SLC: Public Lands, Megan moved to Oregon and found an interest in User Design Experience. She is currently working at a wilderness summer camp while she completes a UX certification.
Kiersten Orton: Field Technician (2019)
Kiersten graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Watershed and Earth Systems with a minor in Geographic Information Sciences.
Laura Beck: Field Technician (2019)
Laura has an Associate’s Degree in Environmental Studies and finished a Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation and Restoration Ecology at Utah State University in 2021. She worked as a crew member for the Texas Conservation Corps and is currently pursing a masters degree at Texas A&M-Kingsville in Range and Wildlife Science.