David Borneman
Deputy Manager - Volunteerism and Natural Area Preservation
Phone: 734.794.6627
Inventory
Becky Gajewski, Stewardship Specialist
I am very excited to join the team at NAP as a Stewardship Specialist! I've always had a strong interest in learning about nature and ecological restoration, and that naturally led me to Ann Arbor to pursue my bachelor's and master's degrees from U of M's School of Natural Resources and Environment. After graduating, I spent three years completing natural resource management and restoration projects for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Now I am glad to return to Ann Arbor and give back to the city that has given me so much over the years.
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43476
Juliet Berger, Ornithologist
I'm a lifelong birder, so I am thrilled to join the NAP staff as the new Ornithologist. With my backgrounds in both Social Work and Science, I operate at the nexus of birding, bird science and community organization. I have been President of Washtenaw Audubon Society for two years, and I love to lead bird walks and answer bird-related questions. I am a coach for Feathered Friends, a Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad event about birds, and I am a longtime NAP Breeding Bird Survey volunteer. I am excited to work with all the amazing NAP volunteers and staff.
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43478
George Hammond, Field Biologist
George came to Ann Arbor for graduate study in ecology, got a
Master's degree, then never left. He worked in the Museum of Zoology, helping
build and manage the Animal Diversity Web website, then briefly taught at EMU
before getting hired at NAP. He has been a NAP employee for just a couple of
years, but was a NAP volunteer for many years previously, inspired by the (then
new) salamander survey. He volunteered with other NAP surveys, and started
coming to public workdays as well. He says "I very happy to be organizing
the surveys that I once volunteered for. I have a new appreciation for the work
involved! There are so many small wonders in our parks, so many great things to
find. I hope you will get out into our parks and nature areas, and find the
beauty there."
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43477
Outreach
Tina Stephens, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Each and every day I am touched to see how much our volunteers give to protect and restore Ann Arbor’s natural areas and care for their neighborhood parks! I joined NAP in 2008 and enjoyed three years as the Adopt-A-Park coordinator. In 2012 I was honored to be hired as the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for NAP and Adopt-A-Park. After growing up in southeast Michigan, I attended Ferris State University and studied Recreation Management with an emphasis in Outdoor and Environmental. Working at NAP I get to express my love for Michigan, and use my talents and training to inspire in others a love of nature through volunteer efforts!
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43472
Meija Knafl, Park Stewards Coordinator
A recent graduate from the University of Maine's wildlife ecology program, I am incredibly excited to be joining the NAP team! Born and bred in Ann Arbor, it's a dream come true that I've been given the opportunity to bring my passion for the outdoors home. I've spent several summers as a seasonal naturalist for the MDNR leading groups of children in nature-based outdoor programming. These summers have further fueled my drive to create opportunities for people to involve themselves with the nature that surrounds them every day. I'm looking forward to working with Park Stewards and other independent volunteers, connecting people with our wonderful wild spaces in meaningful ways.
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43474
Krissy Elkins, Workday Coordinator
The City of Ann Arbor is lucky to have a whole team of
wonderful people dedicated to preserving and restoring our natural areas. I am
even luckier to be one of those people! I am a graduate of the University of
Michigan in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and am thrilled to help conserve
the very city that gave me my degree. I have spent time working for the UM
Herbarium, learning the ins and outs of plant collecting. I worked to digitize
part of the 1.75 million specimens in the collection. Now it is time to shift
from curated flowers to the real thing! I look forward to organizing workdays
that help connect anyone and everyone to our beautiful planet.
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43471
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."
Hannah Bradshaw, Communications and Special Events
I am currently a student at the University of Michigan, and prior to coming to NAP I've spent time working at the UM Museum of Natural History and the Washtenaw County Conservation District. I love the outdoors and open spaces, so in my free time I like to be outside with my dog Blue or reading a good book. I am grateful to be a part of such a passionate team here, filled with truly kind people who care deeply about the work that they are doing. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with more volunteers here at NAP, as they're some of my favorite people to interact with and learn from.
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43479
Field Crew
For the past eight years I managed natural areas and
coordinated volunteers for a land trust in the Chicagoland area. My passion for
ecological restoration is continually growing and I am eager for the
opportunity to share that passion with the residents of Ann Arbor. I hope to
see you in the field!
Phone: 734.794.6627 x43484
Amy Lipson, Conservation Worker
My name is Amy, and I'm a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a degree in Plant Biology. As someone who has always loved exploring and protecting Michigan's natural areas, I'm thrilled to be joining the NAP crew! I've worked for Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum as a natural areas intern, and also as a landscape foreman for a private gardening company. What I enjoy most about these jobs is seeing the dramatic changes in landscapes as I remove weeds and invasive species to make way for gorgeous native plants and flowers. I'm looking forward to a great burn season this spring, and the wildflower blooms to follow!
Kathleen Gosselin, Conservation Worker
We are so happy to have Kathleen on our team! Her picture and bio are coming soon!
