The Western New York Land Conservancy recently announced that Kathleen McCormick has joined the Land Conservancy staff as stewardship director.
According to Executive Director Nancy Smith, 'the Land Conservancy is thrilled to welcome Kathleen to our team. Kathleen's passion for natural resource protection, knowledge of ecological systems, GIS and planning skills will be a great fit for the stewardship director position."
McCormick has a Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She spent 10 years as a college professor before returning to school for a master's degree and hands-on training in landscape design and planning at the Conway School, a school known nationally for its focus on ecological and social sustainability. After completing her degree, Kathleen became a program manager for Keep Western New York Beautiful, a nonprofit that supports grassroots efforts to clean and naturally beautify our region. In this capacity, she worked with staff from municipalities and other not-for-profits, property owners, and volunteers on community cleanups and tree plantings, food system planning, and an award-winning phytoremediation project.
Kathy Lasher, Land Conservancy board president believes that, "Kathleen's experiences as a teaching scientist and coordinating large community-based programs will be especially helpful as she works with our protected property landowners and municipal partners."
"This is exactly the kind of position I dreamed of when I decided to climb down from the ivory tower and root my career in promoting land use that fosters ecosystem health," McCormick said. "My training and experience have taught me that healthy land means healthy people. I am honored and delighted to be part an organization that is growing Western New York's treasure trove of healthy natural areas and working lands."
The Western New York Land Conservancy is a regional, not-for-profit land trust that permanently protects land with significant conservation value in Western New York, for the benefit of future generations. The group envisions a future in which natural areas, farm lands, wildlife habitat and scenic beauty are cherished and protected as part of the landscape and character of Western New York. The organization is one of 1,700 land trusts nationwide, including 90 in New York State, which have protected 40 million acres over the last 20 years. For more information or to support the mission of the Western New York Land Conservancy, call 687-1225 or visit www.wnylc.org.