Our Staff

Education:  Iowa State University, Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture and Environmental Studies (w/honors), 1999- Hawkeye Institute of Technology, Associate of Applied Art, 1990
Expertise: Writing Cultural Landscape Histories • Inventories and Reports  • Site mapping  • Advertising Design
Professional Accomplishments:
Landscape Designer, Iowa State University Facilities Planning, Landscape Architecture Historian, National Park Service NE Region, Landscape Designer, Heard Gardens Ltd., Advertising Designer, The Advertiser (Ames, IA).
Professional Leadership: Madrid Public Library Board Member, 2021-present- Madrid Performing Arts Council Treasurer, 2017-present -Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Troop Leader, 2008-2018 (4 age groups)-Trumpeter Swan Restoration Committee, Student President,1998-99
Publications: Contributed to Assateague Island National Seashore (AINS) Life-Saving Station Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) and Report (CLR), AINS Hunting Lodge CLI, Hampton National Historic Site Vegetation Inventory, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area CLR, Colonial Parkway National Historic Park National Register Documentation.

Education: University of Wisconsin, Masters of Science in Water Resources Management • Iowa State University, Bachelor of Science in Botany (with honors, Phi Beta Kappa)
Expertise: Water Quality Data Analysis and Graphs Using R Statistical Programming Language • Mapping with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) • Watershed Planning and Outreach • Writing • Public Speaking • Lesson Planning • Tabling Events • Conservation and Water Quality Materials Design and Website Maintenance
Professional Accomplishments:  PRI Watershed Educator and Water Quality Specialist Since 2017 • Wrote 10-Year Water Monitoring Plan and 2021 Report for Story County • County-Wide Creek and Watershed Sign Project • Mapped Suitable Locations for Conservation Practices in 43 (HUC12) Watersheds Using the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) • Improved High Capacity Well Database and Mapped Wetland Losses at Wisconsin DNR • Monitored and Modeled Surface and Groundwater for a Lake Protection Project at University of Wisconsin • Helped Homeowners Select Native Plants at Landscape Alternatives Nursery in Minnesota

Education:  Currently Completing a Degree in Management Information Systems at Iowa State, Graduating in Spring 2024
Expertise:  Marketing • Information Technology • Python • Data Analytics
Professional Accomplishments: Designed and Implemented Python-Based SQL inventory database for El Azteca
Professional Leadership:  Responsibility for Maintaining Office Information Technology • Led Student-Driven Restaurant Pitch

Education:  Iowa State University, Nonprofit Management Certificate • Nonprofit Management Institute, Iowa State University Extended and Continuing Education, 2000 • Iowa State University, Master of Arts in English, Business and Technical Writing Emphasis,  1985 • Iowa State University, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication, Magazine Journalism Emphasis, Minor in International Studies, 1984
Expertise:  Writing • Editing • Publishing • Volunteer Management • Nonprofit Management
Professional Accomplishments: Iowa State University. Department of English, Foundational and Advanced Communication Classes • Learning Communities, Lecturer • ISU Extension, Life in Iowa, Program Coordinator/Instructor • College of Education, Dialogues in Diversity, Facilitator • Vision 2020, WK Kellogg Foundation-Funded Program, Writer, Editor, Program Coordinator • Department of History, Agricultural History journal, Assistant Editor • Iowa State University Press, Editing, Marketing, Acquisitions •  WOI Radio, Researcher, Writer, Producer • Volunteer Center of Story County, Executive Director, 2006-14 • Focus Communications, Business Owner, Publishing Services • Renewing the Countryside — Iowa, Book Editor/writer, 2002 • One-Armed Bandit, by George Mills, Book Editor/Publisher, 1998 • Association of American Colleges & Universities Session Presentation, Conference on Pedagogies of Engagement, Chicago, April 2004 • Iowa State University Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE). Panel member, Dialogues on Diversity educational model Ames, March 2002 • Iowa State University Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE). Panel Presenter, Broadening Course Objectives to Incorporate Diversity, Ames, March 2000
Professional Leadership: Raising Readers in Story County, Board of Directors, 2014-21; Vice-president, 2017-18; President, 2018-2020 • Iowa Community Education Association, Board of Directors, 2010-2012 • Volunteer Centers of Iowa, President, 2009 – 2011 • City of Ames Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan, Steering Committee Member, 2008 – 2009 • National Association for Multicultural Education, Iowa Chapter, Secretary, 2007 – 2008 •  Iowa’s Mosaic Diversity Conference 2006, Program Planning Committee, 2006 • Worldly Goods, 223 Main Street, Ames, lA, Board of Directors, 2005 – 2008 and 1999 – 2002; Chair, 2001-2002 • Ames International Partner City Association (AIPCA, Inc.), Ames City Hall Ames, IA. Board of Directors, 2002 – 2005. Delegation to Czech Republic, 2002. Delegation to Japan, 1998 • Editor of The Friendship Connection newsletter, 2000 – 2005, Host for delegation Members Visiting from Japan, 2002, 2001, 1999
Awards:  Unsung Heroes Award, Ames Noon Rotary and Ames Tribune, 2002 • Member of Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society • Recipient of Sigma Delta Chi Regional Mark of Excellence Award for Nonfiction Magazine Writing

Education:  Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids, IA
Expertise: QuickBooks for Nonprofits • Payroll • Word Processing • Secretarial Responsibilities
Professional Accomplishments:  Have Worked in Most positions at Prairie Rivers Since 2006, Most Recently Serving as the Office Administrator