The SWCS Board of Directors consists of one director elected by SWCS members from each of SWCS’s regions in the United States (Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast). Additionally, four At-Large Directors and two ex officio nonvoting Emerging Leader members are appointed to serve on the Board of Directors by the Board itself. The SWCS CEO also serves as an ex officio nonvoting member.
Regional Directors represent the interests of all SWCS members, with specific responsibilities to the members and chapters within their respective regions as required by the Board. At-Large Directors and Emerging Leader members ensure the Board represents a broad range of public policy and natural resource knowledge while maintaining connections with federal, state, and provincial agencies; other societies; and environmental, agricultural, conservation, and other groups.
We are pleased to welcome our new Emerging Leader members, who bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to our Board. Their involvement enhances our commitment to innovation and leadership in the field.
Ellen Gilinsky
Ellen Gilinsky, PhD is president of Ellen Gilinsky, LLC, which she started in January 2017 to work with government, industry, and the private sector on finding environmental solutions to water challenges. Currently her clients include the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center and the Environmental Defense Fund. In addition,...
Amanda Gumbert
Dr. Amanda Gumbert is an Extension Specialist for Water Quality in the Forestry & Natural Resources Department at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment (M-G CAFE). She leads a small but mighty team of extension professionals who provide technical assistance, education, and outreach programs on...
Leonard Jordan
Leonard Jordan has spent more than four decades building a portfolio focused on conserving our natural resources. Having worked across the nation, Jordan has worked with several interest groups, government agencies and non-profit organizations to ensure that our environment is protected. His passion is to work with the American public,...
Keith Berns
Keith Berns combines over 20 years of no-till farming with 10 years of teaching agriculture and computers. In addition to no-tilling 2,500 acres of irrigated and dryland corn, soybeans, rye, triticale, peas, sunflowers, and buckwheat in south central Nebraska, he also co-owns and operates Green Cover Seed, one of the...
Krista Kirkham
Krista Kirkham is an Aquatic Ecologist for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Illinois. Krista has been with TNC for 17 years and serves as the lead water quality technician for the Mackinaw River Program. She works closely with agricultural and university partners to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of constructed...
Christopher Hartley
Christopher Hartley is the Senior Environmental Markets Analyst with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Markets. He is responsible for the development of policy, tools, and metrics to facilitate private investment in conservation and the participation of farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in emerging environmental markets. He...
Colby Moorberg
Colby is an associate professor of soil science in the Kansas State University (KSU) Department of Agronomy. He teaches Soils, Soils Laboratory, and Soil and Water Conservation. He is also a coach for the KSU Soil Judging Team and serves as the faculty advisor for the KSU student chapter of...
Carrie Vollmer-Sanders
Carrie is a sixth generation farmer, passionate about collaborating with forward-thinking farmers, convening diverse thought-leaders, and addressing environmental challenges while maintaining focus on business objectives. She received the White House Champion of Change Award in 2014 for her leadership in developing the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program while at The...
Loutrina Staley
Dr. Loutrina Staley-Cordell is a Plant and Soil Scientist, educator, and agricultural program leader with over a decade of experience in conservation, food safety, and community-based education. She currently runs HaveiHope Inc., a 501(C) 3 nonprofit literacy and enrichment program with her husband that integrates farm life, equine care, and...
Emmanuel Wallace
Emmanuel is passionate about youth development, conservation, and creating a more equitable, sustainable future. With a BS in Agricultural Sciences and an MS in Environmental Sciences from Tennessee State University, his academic journey has always been grounded in connecting people to the land and advocating for environmental justice. His graduate...
Haleigh Summers
Haleigh joined Sand County Foundation in 2023 as an agricultural geospatial data scientist. Sand County Foundation is a national nonprofit that works at the intersection of agriculture and the environment. In her role, Haleigh manages data for various projects, simplifying data collection for farmers and her team. She ensures data...