WELC Staff

Kyle joined WELC as our Wildlands Program Associate in 2017. Kyle has spent more than five years working with environmental attorneys, scientists, and activists from San Diego to Seattle, and everywhere in between. He has worked to successfully advance policy on sustainable fishing practices, public lands protection, mining reform, clean energy, industrial agriculture, and arts education. Kyle holds a B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University and spent a lot of his life growing up along the Appalachian Trail. Kyle works from our Northwest office and can be reached at 310-975-5298.

Susan Jane joined WELC as a staff attorney in 2009 and is our Wildlands & Wildlife Program director. She joined WELC after serving as Natural Resources Counsel for Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) in Washington, D.C. She also worked as a staff attorney with the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center, Lewis and Clark Law School’s environmental law clinic. A nationally recognized expert on forest law, she has twice been appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to co-chair the Federal Advisory Committee on the National Forest Management Act. She also served as executive director of the Gifford Pinchot Task Force from 2000-2003. Susan Jane graduated from Vanderbilt University and earned her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School. Learn why Susan Jane is dedicated to defending the West. Susan Jane works from our Northwest office and can be reached at 503-914-1323.

Dina joined WELC as our administrative coordinator in 1999. She received her B.S. with honors in environmental biology from Northern Arizona University. During her undergraduate studies, Dina was chosen as the recipient of several academic scholarships, notably, as the first recipient of the Environmental Fund for a Sustainable Future Scholarship. Learn why Dina is dedicated to defending the West. Dina works from our Southwest office, 575-751-0351 x136.

Andrew joined WELC in 2017 as a staff attorney. Originally from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Andrew earned B.S. in biology from the Pennsylvania State University and his law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School. From 2004 to 2008, Andrew was the Walter Kulman Legal Fellow and then Staff Attorney at Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, DC, working to protect North Atlantic right whales, Florida panthers, bald eagles, wolverine, and lynx among other wildlife. In 2008, Andrew returned to Oregon to join the Northwest Environmental Defense Center as the organization’s first staff attorney, where he focused on Clean Water Act enforcement and protecting the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Andrew works from our Seattle office, 206-487-7207 x142.

Laura joined WELC in 2013 as a Maria, Gabriella and Robert A. Skirnick Public Interest Law Fellow and became a staff attorney the following year. Prior to joining WELC, she received her B.A. in English at U.C. Berkeley and received her J.D. from Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, Laura worked for the Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, interned for the Northern Rockies Office of Earthjustice, was senior editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review, and taught environmental law at Boston College. Her diverse docket includes legal advocacy aimed at protecting wildlife, public lands, and our climate. Learn why Laura is dedicated to defending the West. Laura works from our Northern Rockies office, 406-443-3501 x129.   

David joined WELC as our director of development in 2013. He works to strengthen relationships with WELC’s supporters and to secure funding for the organization. Previously, David worked in a development and communications capacity for Earthjustice, the Environmental Protection Information Center, and Humboldt State University. David received his B.A. in journalism from San Francisco State University and earned his M.A. in social science, with a specialization in environmental policy and law, from Humboldt State University. His work exploring deep ecology philosophy and other environmental issues has been published in academic journals including the European Journal of Ecopsychology. David works from our Northwest office, 541-485-2471 x117.

Jackie joined WELC as our development and communications coordinator in 2008. She updates supporters with our victories and their impact by doing graphic design and editing of our newsletters, reports, website, mailings, emails, and other materials. Prior to WELC, she did membership, fundraising, and outreach for Pacific Rivers Council and Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, was an outdoor educator and wilderness guide for City of Eugene and Appalachian Mountain Club, and did GIS for Grand Canyon Trust. She graduated summa cum laude from Northern Arizona University with a B.S. in environmental science and emphasis in ecosystem management. She won the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science Hydrology Presentation Award, Lowell Observatory Achievement Award, and was the University’s Standard Bearer. Jackie works from our Northwest office, 541-485-2471 x111.

Lyndee joined WELC as our finance officer in 2014. She has more than 12 years of diverse accounting and business experience. Lyndee graduated from the School of Business at the University of Montana. Her desire to work for WELC is fueled by a love of the outdoors, which began in her youth as a native of Montana. Lyndee works from our Northwest office, 541-485-2471 x113.

Brian joined WELC in 2015 as our communications director. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.S. in agricultural journalism and an environmental studies certificate. Before joining WELC, he worked on environmental issues with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. Brian works from our Southwest office and can be reached at 262-914-1113.

Matt represents citizen groups in court to implement environmental laws with a special emphasis on protecting wildlife using the Endangered Species Act. Along with Geoff Hickcox, Matt received the 2003 Kerry L. Rydberg Award for excellence in public-interest environmental litigation. Matt is a graduate of the University of Vermont and earned his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law. Matt can be reached at 970-749-9149.