Core Staff

Deb (she/her) is a conservation professional who brings more than 25 years of experience as an intern, technician, manager and program administrator working to conserve imperiled species and critical habitats. Her expertise is with managing multi-faceted conservation programs that address natural resource management, public outreach, funding and grants, scientific research and policy development. Most significantly, she led the statewide conservation program for the gopher tortoise in Florida and worked with partners across the species’ range. During the past 4 years, she led a team charged with implementation of Florida’s conservation land acquisition program that prioritizes acquisition of land to create wildlife corridors, protect critical habitats and resources, and enhance climate resilience.

Deb holds a BA in Geography from University of South Florida and an MPA in environmental policy from Florida State University. She obtained a Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning from FSU and is a Fellow of the University of Florida’s Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute. Deb served as a Peace Corps Volunteer implementing agroforestry systems in rural Paraguay. She frequently volunteers and serves on boards with local nonprofit groups. When she’s not paddling or running, she and her husband enjoy riding bikes in the woods throughout the Southeast and while visiting family and friends in Truckee.