NCCSP

STAFF

Brian Barr, MS
Habitat Restoration Project Manager
brian@nccsp.org 
541-482-4459 X304

Over the last eleven years, Brian's research efforts have focused on the impacts of land and water management activities on fish populations, benthic macroinvertebrates, water quality, and stream processes.  During seven of these eleven years, he worked on relicensing and dam removal projects as a biologist within the hydroelectric industry across the western states.  For the last five years, Brian has focused his activities on assessing watershed health, developing and implementing aquatic habitat and native fish restoration projects, and assessing the impacts of grazing on aquatic species in southern Oregon and northern California.  Spearheading the “Restoring Freeways for Fish” campaign, he has helped to develop commitments to remove 17 fish passage barriers that will restore or improve access to 1,100 miles of stream in the Rogue River Basin.  He holds a B.S. in zoology from Miami University and a M.S. in fisheries and wildlife science from Virginia Tech.

Cindy Deacon Williams, MS
Director of Aquatic Science and Conservation Education Programs
cindy@nccsp.org 
541-482-4459 X303

 A fisheries biologist by training, Cindy oversees our Clean Water programs.  She has over 25 years of policy and field experience in both conservation organizations and governmental agencies.  During her years of government service, Cindy provided strategic leadership as EIS Team Co-leader in the  development of alternative ecosystem-based management strategies for Forest Service and BLM lands within the Columbia River Basin. She also served on the Forest Service team responsible for creation of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan.  Prior to her arrival at the National Center, Cindy held the position of Senior Aquatic Ecologist for the Pacific Rivers Council  where she provided technical expertise and support for a variety of programs and represented the organization on regional working committees established to develop and evaluate aquatic conservation strategies.  Cindy also spent nearly a decade working on natural resource issues as legislative staff with the California Legislature.  Cindy earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Oregon State University and a M.S. in Biological Sciences from California State University at Sacramento.

Dominick Dellasala, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Conservation Science & Policy Programs
dominick@nccsp.org
541-482-4459 X302

Dominick is an internationally renowned author of over 150 technical papers, co-author of four books on biodiversity and sustainable forest management, subject editor for the Natural Areas Journal, guest editor for Conservation Biology, and is on the Board of Directors for the Society for Conservation Biology, North American section.  Earlier in his career, Dominick conducted field research in forest ecosystems from Michigan’s mixed hardwood forests to Oregon’s Cascade Mountains and the temperate rainforests of Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest.  He has given plenary and keynote addresses at academic conferences, workshops, and the United Nations (Earth Summit II) and has appeared in National Geographic, Science Digest, Time Magazine, High Country News, Terrain Magazine, NY Times, LA Times, CNN, MSNBC, “Living on Earth (NPR),” and Public Radio and TV (including several conservation films).  Dominick received WWF’s President’s Award in 2000 and 2004 and the Wilburforce Foundation Conservation Leadership Award in 2005.  As part of his responsibility to oversee the entire package of conservation science and policy programs, Dominick directs the Intact Ecosystems program.

Tonya Graham, MA
Executive Director of Operations & Development
tonya@nccsp.org
541-482-4459 X301

In addition to oversight of all organizational operations and fund-raising, Tonya has taken a lead role in collaborative conservation efforts on local, on-the-ground projects.  Specific projects include working with the Talent Irrigation District to eliminate their dependence on chemical herbicides and helping to create the governance and decision-making structure for the Rogue Valley Small Diameter Collaborative.  Tonya has received training through the Institute for Conservation Leadership, Training Resources for the Environmental Community, Community Strategic Training Initiative, Rockwood Leadership Program, Lorman Educational Services, and Technical Assistance for Community Services.  Tonya holds a B.S. in Biophysical Environmental Studies from Northland College and a M.A. in Community Development from Goddard College.

Rich Nauman, MS
Conservation Scientist
rich@nccsp.org
541-482-4459 X307

Rich has nearly 20 years experience working in forest, wildlife, and fisheries conservation.  His experience includes work at Olympic National Park, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and southern Baja California.  Prior to joining the National Center, where his primary responsibilities include working on the BLM's Western Oregon Plan Revision Process and the National Landscape Conservation System, Richard worked for the US Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station where he was a member of the Survey and Manage Team managing research projects and assisting in Northwest Forest Plan implementation.  He brings a broad range of knowledge, including extensive experience with the Northwest Forest Plan, conservation planning, wildlife biology, fisheries, and Geographic Information Systems.  He is a recognized expert in amphibian biology and is a co-author of a scientific paper describing a previously undiscovered species of salamander from the Siskiyou Mountains.  He has published over 80 maps and written numerous scientific papers and reports.  Rich is an avid angler and has written popular articles for Flyfisherman, Saltwater Flyfishing, and Forest Magazine.  Rich holds a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of California-Santa Cruz and a M.S. in Biology from the University of Oregon.

Marni Koopman, Ph.D
Climate Change Scientist

Marni joined the National Center’s staff in late April after completing postdoctoral research with the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station.  That research involved investigating the effects of climate change on wildlife and wildlife habitat by reviewing the literature on wildlife and climate change, investigating the potential effects of climate change on bird populations, mapping recent changes in North American species due to climate change, and conducting a comprehensive literature review of climate change projections for wildlife populations and habitat.  Marni created an End Note database of climate change/wildlife literature with more than 700 entries.  The database is updated weekly and is searchable by region, land cover type, model, projections, species, and management recommendations. Marni has expertise in climate change effects on wildlife, ornithology, metapopulation ecology, conservation genetics, and invasive species issues.  She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and government reports and currently is working on a manuscript that compares recommendations for climate change adaptation from the State Wildlife Action Plans and the scientific literature, as well as research needs identified in both types of documents.  Marni holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, a M.S. in Wildland Resource Science from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Wyoming.  Marni will devote 95% of her full-time allocation to our Climate Change Preparation Program specifically working with the scientists at the MAPPS lab to downscale climate change projections to the basin level for the pilot projects.

John Stahmer
Office Manager
john@nccsp.org
541-482-4459 X306

John joined the staff in June 2008, bringing twenty-five years of experience working for non-profit organizations in a variety of administrative and financial positions. He recently returned to the Rogue Valley after an eight-year adventure living in various small communities along the coastline of the Pacific Northwest. Although new to NCCSP, John served on the staff of Headwaters – one of NCCSP’s predecessors – from 1991 to 1998. John was also instrumental in the formation and operation of Rogue Environmental Inc., the local group that owns and maintains the Headwaters Environmental Center, which houses the NCCSP offices. John’s broad range of administrative and accounting skills, and his commitment to environmental causes, make him a perfect compliment to the rest of the staff.

Nelli Williams
Publications Editor

A Wisconsin native, Nelli comes to Oregon via Alaska.  She is an environmental education program planning consultant as well as a freelance publications designer for a number of organizations located in the Pacific Northwest and a teacher of graphic design.  Nelli designs all publications for the organization including our quarterly publication, Conservation Connection.  She holds a MA in Environmental Education and Interpretation from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.

Photos of Dominick DellaSala and Brian Barr by Kevin Schafer.