Staff 

Dea Armstrong, Ornithologist
Dea Armstrong joined NAP in 1998 while still in graduate school at SNRE at the University of Michigan, but she served as a volunteer on NAP's Breeding Bird Survey before that. She is active with the Washtenaw Audubon Society and enjoys both local and international birding. She loves working at NAP!

Tina Roselle, Temporary Management Assistant
Tina has been with NAP since 2008. She has spent the last few years doing a variety of outdoor and environmental education jobs in Michigan, Taiwan, and Japan. She says, "It's great to be settling in back home in the Ann Arbor area and working to conserve the green spaces so close to my heart. I’m looking forward to getting to know all the park adopters as well as our other fantastic volunteers."
     Phone: 734.794.6627 x43472

Christine Chessler, Park Steward Coordinator
Christine joined NAP during the summer of 2010. She recently moved to Ann Arbor from the southeast, where she completed her B.S. in Biology from the University of South Florida and her M.S. in Biology from Valdosta State University. She enjoys integrating her ecological background with community outreach. She hopes to see you at one (or more!) of NAP's volunteer workdays!
     Phone: 734.794.6627 x43479

Renée Hytinen, Adopt-A-Park Coordinator
In April I started as the new Adopt-A-Park Coordinator in the Outreach office. I’ve been friends with several NAPpers over the years and I am so excited to finally be in with the ‘IN’ crowd. My path toward NAP has wound through various fields of work, so I’m hoping to use my diverse experiences to serve the public, parks and natural areas.
     Phone: 734.794.6627 x43475

Yousef Rabhi, Workday Coordinator
Having grown up in Ann Arbor next door to Leslie Woods, I developed an ethic of stewardship of the wonderful resources that our community’s parkland has to offer. Since I was a youth, I have been involved with the Buhr Park Children’s Wet Meadow Project, helping me to understand the power of community to make change for the better. For the last five seasons, I worked on the natural areas crew at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, learning valuable technical skills for preserving our natural heritage. It is with great excitement that I will have the opportunity to use all of these experiences in my new role as workday coordinator.

     Phone: 734.794.6627 x43471

Sara Jackson, Outreach Assistant
Sara divides her time between newsletter production and editing, graphic design work, and assisting with the volunteer workday coordination-in addition to leading many of them! She worked for many years at National Wildlife Federation, and prior to that several environmental education and outdoor adventure jobs across the county. This included a summer spent as a volunteer backcountry ranger for Guadalupe Mountains National Park in west Texas. She has a B.S. in Environmental Communication, Education and Interpretation from The Ohio State University.
     Phone: 734.794.6627 x43474

Laura Mueller, Outreach Assistant

After spending a few years as a photographer, Laura switched gears and joined an AmeriCorps program which focused on environmental education and stewardship. The next years led to field crew positions with The Nature Conservancy throughout Indiana and Minnesota. She returned to Michigan to help care for the Natural Areas of Ann Arbor. She says, "It’s wonderful to have a chance to be a part of conservation efforts close to home!"

Dana Novak, Outreach Assistant

Dana studied Environmental Science and Wildlife at The Ohio State University, and then wandered around the states from the east coast to the Rockies as a semi-professional volunteer before settling in Boise, Idaho, working in the realms of storm water and environmental consulting. The births of their two beautiful boys in 2008 gave them a new definition of "tired" and a renewed sense of their collective ability to make a positive impact. Dana can be found leading workdays, but is no longer in the NAP office. She says, "I challenge you all to get out there and join us at a workday, if you haven't before - or attend one more workday than usual! If you're like me, it will invigorate your body and refresh your spirit." 

Alex Aizenman, Field Crew

Alex joined the field crew spring 2011. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, he graduated from U of M's Program in the Environment in 2009. Alex says, "Though it can be hard work out in the field, I always love the opportunity to learn as much as I can while contributing to the health of our natural areas." He is especially enjoys helping with burns and learning more about the flora and fauna of this region.

Robb Johnston, Field Crew

Robb has been living in Ann Arbor since May 2009 and soon after became a member of NAP's field crew! Previously, he worked as a research assistant at Michigan State University on a project studying biological control of Garlic Mustard and graduated in 2006 with a degree in International Relations. Robb recently illustrated and published his first children's book, "The Woodcutter and The Most Beautiful Tree." 

Rachel Maranto, Field Crew

I grew up in Fort Wayne, IN and went to school at Indiana University, where I earned a B.S. in Environmental Science. After graduating, I spent two years in the greater Seattle area working as an AmeriCorps service volunteer in the environmental restoration field. I joined NAP’s field crew in March of this year.  I am very happy to be back home in the Midwest working for a cause I believe in! 

Rob Schubert, Field Crew

Rob started with NAP as an intern, but since graduating from the University of Michigan, he's now full-time on the field crew. He says, "and though the rain may often fall cold upon my head, birds do also sing me songs, flowers greet me in a myriad of hues, and, on occasion, I’ve the warmth of a good fire upon my face. Cheers to the good people of Ann Arbor for having the wisdom to recognize a need for preservation."

Jane Sherry, Field Crew

An Ann Arbor native, Jane graduated from Indiana University in May 2011 with a B.S. in Environmental Management. Before working for NAP, she was an intern for the Sycamore Land Trust, an environmental non-profit in Bloomington, IN. As the Inventory Specialist at NAP, Jill works to document, update and map data using Microsoft Access and GIS software. She also gets to join the field crew occasionally.

Jill Sweetman, Field Crew

After interning with NAP last fall, Jill is now happy to be a part-time member of the field crew. The rest of her time is spent starting Green Things Farm just north of town with her fiancé, Nate. She's excited to be a part of improving both Ann Arbor’s natural and food systems.