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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 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 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.
Fin is a current Colorado State University freshman studying Landscape Architecture, as well as our Office Assistant. Born and raised in Fort Collins, they have cultivated a lifelong love and passion for conserving and protecting nature. They are particularly interested in the biology of forests, crafting cute beanies for their goose statue, and the use of sustainable and native plant garden design as a way to conserve lands. Fin is just at the beginning of their journey in conservation and is excited to learn more about the process of caring for nature.
My name is Riley Chavira. I am a Conservation Biology Major. I have a love and passion for wanting to help endangered species along Colorado. I hope to one day educate others about how conservation efforts can be created and put into place by each single one of us. This is my first internship with the CCC and excited to learn how the CCC helps the people who are currently practicing conservation and hope to help the CCC reach out to students of CSU and other colleges in Colorado possibly the United States about conservation efforts. I was born and raised in Colorado, enjoy being outdoors, and love to adventure to new places.
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.
As the Land Conservation, Planning and Resource Division Manager for Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, Meegan oversees the Departments’ land acquisitions, planning, natural and cultural resource management, and trails programs. She received her M.S. in Natural Resources from Colorado State University and B.A. in Biology from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Prior to graduate study, she worked for the City of Colorado Springs and City of Boulder open space programs.
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 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.
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.
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.
Ms. Young’s career centers on helping land owners and managers with various needs to achieve their goals for their way of life. She has over twenty-five years of working and collaborating with land owners, community members, governments, non-profits, public bodies, and individuals in rural mountain living settings. She has a passion for regenerative agriculture and environmental education.
Through her career, Ms. Young has educated people on natural resource management and conservation including but not limited to: forest and range lands, water and soil, energy, growing food, living with wildlife, and homesteading practices. She uses adaptive holistic resource management practices to help people understand their role on the land, and living in their environment.
Ms. Young has served as a mentor for colleagues and student interns. Her work as a mentor provides knowledge and guidance to those pursuing careers in land management. She has also inspired and mentored youth through the 4-H and Youth Development program.
Diana Lane
Dr. Diana Lane leads The Nature Conservancy’s thriving rivers and sustainable water supplies strategy in Colorado. In that capacity, she works with partners to create and implement water and watershed management solutions to increase resilience in the face of drought and increased water demand. Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy in 2019, Diana had a 20-year career in public-sector environmental consulting, where she worked on large-scale ecological restoration projects for state, federal, and foundation clients. Diana has expertise in restoration ecology and planning, adaptation, and management of public funding. Diana holds a BA in Biology from Harvard College, an MS in Rangeland Ecosystem Science from Colorado State University, and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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.
