With over a decade of conservation work with environmental non-profits, Claire offers her expertise in private land conservation, public policy, and on-the-ground restoration to lead NMLC’s conservation staff. Claire holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Roanoke College and a master’s degree in International Development and Sustainability from Denver University. She began her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Silver City, NM in 2012, and served with conservation organizations in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. She has experience in water conservation and ecological restoration projects and has worked professionally across the Southwest and its borderlands to restore streams for water quality and wildlife habitat. Claire has direct experience connecting farmers and ranchers to agricultural land management practices through NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Claire hits the ground running at NMLC thanks to her land trust experience and leads NMLC’s conservation easement portfolio to acquire new easements, provide stewardship for easements, and seek funding and support for conservation and restoration projects throughout the state. On weekends you will find Claire hiking in the mountains and fishing for native trout in headwater streams near Taos, NM with her two old dogs.