John Sanderson
Director
John has focused on conservation of Western water, land, and forests for nearly three decades, including at the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and The Nature Conservancy. As director of the Center for Collaborative Conservation, John now strives to equip people and communities with the skills and resources they need to work across differences to address large, complex conservation challenges. John earned a B.S. in engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. in botany from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology at Colorado State University.
“I am intrigued by science, delighted by nature, and passionate about people and the many ways we think, learn, celebrate, and solve problems. I believe in the importance of listening to the many voices who care about and depend on our precious land and water and look forward to working together to create a future where people and nature can thrive.” – John Sanderson
Allison Brody
Associate Director of Learning
Allison came to the CCC from Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum of Albuquerque, where she led a staff committed to developing and delivering innovative science education programs, as well as a workforce development center. She has been a passionate informal science educator for more than 24 years, and has worked at the Public Lands Institute, Clark County Wetlands Park, Oklahoma City Zoo, and the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society. She holds a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Ecology, and a D.A. in Biological Education. Allison believes that empowered and engaged communities are the key to conserving nature and protecting the places we live and love.
Aireona Raschke
Associate Director of Practice
Aireona Bonnie Raschke, Ph.D. comes to the Center for Collaborative Conservation (CCC) from Desert Botanical Garden, where she led the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) as the program director. Through her work with CAZCA, Aireona specialized in collaborative conservation, and led shared work on invasive plant management, ecosystem restoration, and public outreach across central Arizona. Previous to that, she was immersed in studying community-based conservation globally through systematic review and expert consultation, and evaluating the impact of nature-based tourism on the environment and community well-being of Dominica and the Dominican Republic. She’s also an avid hiker, travel blogger, and artist.
Katie McGrath Novak
Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network Coordinator
Katie McGrath Novak began her role as inaugural Coordinator of the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network Coordinator (CFCN) in January 2022. Katie’s skills include facilitative leadership rooted in inclusiveness and good listening, making and executing plans effectively, and a pleasant demeanor that makes people want to work together. She has a B.S. in Forestry from Southern Illinois University and an M.S. in Forest Sciences from Colorado State University that included a focus on forest policy (especially prescribed fire policy) in the western US and communications. Katie is excited about connecting people with nature, and embracing the human emotions and community dynamics that make land management difficult and meaningful. Her favorite part of coordinating the CFCN is that she gets to meet so many inspiring and passionate people across Colorado and the west.
Lizzy Camp
Office Assistant
Lizzy is a current Colorado State University junior studying Landscape Architecture, as well as our Office Assistant. She was born and raised in Fort Collins, and loves the landscape she grew up in. She is interested in the design of play, specifically nature-based play environments. Outside of the CCC and her studio, she is a DJ at KCSU, the student run radio station. She also loves to read, soak up the sun, cuddle with her dog, doodle silly pictures, and spend time with people she loves.
Julia Lankisch
North Sand Creek Project Assistant
Julia is currently working toward her Masters of Conservation Leadership with a capstone focusing on restoring wildlife connectivity corridors across I-25. She earned her undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science and Music from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. She has previously been engaged, through a variety of organizations in Cincinnati, with invasive species research, urban agriculture and permaculture, environmental education, and outdoor recreation. Julia most recently created and led the WestRoots Urban Agriculture program to mitigate the effects of food deserts with nonprofit Cincinnati Urban Promise.
Julia has way too many hobbies and enjoys everything from hiking and canoeing to embroidery and painting. She spends her free time doing crosswords with her corn snake Sergeant Pepper and daydreaming about her ideal job as leader of a nonprofit that rewilds landbank properties in urban areas. Julia believes first and foremost in the right to quality natural areas and healthy environmental conditions. She looks forward to applying her newfound interest in and knowledge about collaborative conservation to the North Sand Creek restoration project.
Willoree Ford
Communications Assistant
Willoree Ford is a current freshman here at Colorado State University, studying for a major in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. She is a new face on the communications team who is incredibly excited to reach out and expand the CCC’s impact!
Her passion for the environment extends to her position as the Communications Assistant, and she believes that environmental education and conservation opportunities should be available to anyone who wishes to further the global conservation movement.
Willoree was born and raised in Longmont, Colorado, and found her passion for conserving the outdoors through years of hiking, gardening, and enjoying outdoor spaces near her home. When she graduates from college, Willoree hopes to travel the world and gain an understanding of global conservation efforts. Eventually, she wants to work for a company that expands renewable energy worldwide, continuing to advocate for green policy in her community.
Susan Goodwin
Good Solutions, LLC
Facilitator, Mediator, Trainer
Facilitator, Mediator, Trainer
After a 30-year career with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Susan recently started a private practice as a facilitator, mediator, and trainer. She specializes in guiding organizations and groups to work cohesively, unlock their best thinking, and arrive at sustainable solutions. With a focus on environmental conflict resolution and organizational development, she brings over three decades of experience helping diverse stakeholders navigate complex issues and find common ground in high-stakes situations.
Susan’s work is rooted in the belief that effective collaboration and conflict resolution can drive meaningful, lasting change for organizations and communities alike. Susan works across organizations and with leadership teams to strengthen internal communications, improve decision-making, and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Currently, she serves as the Co-Chair of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s Environment and Public Policy Section, where she help shape the future of conflict resolution in the environmental sector.
In 2023, Susan relocated to Boise, Idaho from Washington D.C. bringing with her a wealth of experience in fostering collaboration with the federal government on public lands and water management, endangered species protection, and public private partnerships.
Rox Hicks
USFWS/Wyoming Field Office
In 1987, Rox Hicks began working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a volunteer biologist at the National Elk Refuge, Jackson, Wyoming. She later achieved permanent status working on habitat projects and assisting the principal biologist with ungulate studies. In 1997, Rox relocated to northwest Montana continuing as a Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife biologist stationed at the Creston Fish and Wildlife Center, Kalispell, Montana. Currently, Rox is located in Baggs, Wyoming, working with the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative to deliver habitat improvement projects, build partnerships, and funding for both public and private interests.
Rox works to maintain existing partnerships and develop innovative partnerships to achieve collaborative conservation. Networking and developing common sense solutions among private and public interests leads to successful on-the-ground conservation and connections across western landscapes.
Miriam Meyer
Retired Psychologist and Federal Mediator; Farmer/Rancher
Tie Siding, Wyoming
Miriam received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1992. She has worked in the mental health field for approximately 30 years including mental health center, prison, private practice and Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Iowa City, Iowa). She served as a federal mediator at the VA as well as PTSD specialist providing intense trauma therapy for combat and other veterans.
In 2023 Miriam completed the Collaboration Program in Natural Resources at The Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming.
She is married to her husband, Alan, a lifelong farmer and they enjoy helping their sons’ families farm in Iowa and ranch in central Wyoming. Miriam also enjoys caring for their four delightful grandchildren. She is in leadership positions at her church in Laramie. Living close to the beautiful Snowy Mountains in Wyoming, Miriam likes to hike, snowshoe, and watch wildlife.
Rich Alper
Confluence Collaboration, Principal; CCC past Executive Committee member
Richard has years of professional experience as a mediator and team facilitator, especially in resolving complex and dynamic disputes relating to natural resources, land use, transportation, real estate, and change management. He is moved by the power of constructive conversation between people of differing perspectives to discover practical solutions for their common challenges.
Richard has mediated, facilitated, and arbitrated 200+ cases in federal and state courts and agencies as well as for non-profits and business clients. All of the facilitated, multi-party cases have included multiple meetings over many months or quarters. In addition, he has designed, taught or trained 2000+ hours of conflict management, arbitration, negotiation, commercial real estate, land use, and environmental law courses. He currently serves on the facilitator roster of the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution in Tucson, AZ
As an adjunct instructor, Richard has taught for 20+ years at the University of Wyoming, the University of Maryland Law School, Montgomery College, and the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business. He is currently teaching environmental conflict resolution at the University of Northern Colorado.
Hallie Mahowald
Western Landowners Alliance, Program Director
As programs director for the Western Landowners Alliance, a landowner-led non-profit advancing policies and practices to sustain working lands, connected landscapes and native species, Hallie manages people and strategy to support stewardship across the American West. At Western Landowners Alliance, Hallie oversees all programming including the Working Wild Challenge program, a landowner-led effort that recognizes the challenge of ranching with wildlife, and facilitates constructive dialogue between wildlife managers and working land stewards to solve problems through peer learning, public policies and increasing access to technical and financial assistance. Previously, Hallie worked for the Department of Energy where she handled compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). She holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and a M.A. in International Environmental Policy. In conjunction with her academic studies and early career in the non-profit sector, she worked on many natural resources management and sustainable development projects in Central and South America. Hallie currently serves on Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wolf reintroduction and management Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) and as board president for the Central Colorado Conservancy. In her free time, she enjoys mountain biking, paddling and skiing with her husband and two children.
James Calabaza
Trees, Water & People
Director, Indigenous Lands Program
Director, Indigenous Lands Program
As Director of the Indigenous Lands Program at Trees, Water & People, James engages and works with Tribal Nations on efforts centered around Tribal-led stewardship projects that develop collaborative partnerships and landscape-scale restoration efforts. James provides insight on best practices to work with Tribal governments that uphold traditional ethics of governance and leadership. His deep rooted experiences strengthens TWP’s approach in building honest, working relationships while promoting cross-cultural values of landscape conservation.
Julie Dubin
Peaks to People Water Fund
Director
Director
Julie Dubin
Julie Dubin is a nonprofit professional with more than 20 years of leadership experience. A graduate of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment with a Masters in Environmental Management, Julie has dedicated the majority of her career to creating meaningful opportunities for US youth to connect with environmental and cultural initiatives in many diverse and threatened ecosystems around the world. As a Colorado native and long-term Fort Collins resident, she is currently dedicated to shifting her focus to supporting our own threatened ecosystems right here at home. She is passionate about building connections and harnessing our collective efforts to make a crucial difference to our watershed health at this critical time.
Jen Solomon
CSU Conservation Leadership Through Learning program; Dept. of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Professor; CCC Fellow alumna
Dr. Jennifer (Jen) Solomon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Dimensions at CSU. Her research focuses on the interface of conservation, development, and livelihoods. Jen has been incredibly privileged to work and live in several countries where she has practiced conservation social science with a focus on understanding human behavior. She sees the Center as a major part of the solution to many conservation challenges. “The conservation movement is at a critical juncture in time and nobody can achieve what needs to be done alone. A large part of conservation is about building and sustaining quality relationships so we can achieve the necessary outcomes for wildlife, people and the planet. If we can’t work well together than we are much less likely to succeed.” Working collaboratively on teams with students, organizations and leaders brings her tremendous joy. She was honored to receive a CCC Faculty Fellowship (cohort 5) and be part of a Team Fellowship (cohort 7) for work which took place in southern Belize with partner organizations.