Virginia Master Naturalist Executive Committee
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The Executive Committee oversees the operations of the program and helps guide its direction. The committee is made up of representatives of our program's sponsoring state agencies. The current Executive Committee members include:
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Dean Cumbia, Virginia Department of Forestry
Dean P. Cumbia has a long history in forestry, having joined the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) in 1985 and currently serving the agency as Director of Forest Resource Management. In his role, Mr. Cumbia oversees rural forestry and private landowner assistance programs including management planning and reforestation. He directs program managers in forest water quality, urban forestry, forest health and forest inventory. Mr. Cumbia holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and wildlife from Virginia Tech.
Dean P. Cumbia has a long history in forestry, having joined the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) in 1985 and currently serving the agency as Director of Forest Resource Management. In his role, Mr. Cumbia oversees rural forestry and private landowner assistance programs including management planning and reforestation. He directs program managers in forest water quality, urban forestry, forest health and forest inventory. Mr. Cumbia holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and wildlife from Virginia Tech.
Karen Duhring, VIMS Center for Coastal Resources Management
Karen Duhring has 25 years of experience as a coastal management scientist. She has been with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Center for Coastal Resources Management since 1999. Karen presently serves as the Center’s outreach coordinator with programs, publications, and advisory service related to shoreline stabilization and living shorelines, coastal wetlands and riparian buffers, and conservation landscaping with native plants. Karen teaches Virginia Master Naturalist basic training classes covering coastal and estuarine ecology and management. Karen is the caretaker of the VIMS Teaching Marsh with help from Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers. This is a 1-acre demonstration wetland and riparian buffer habitat on campus where visitors and students can learn about coastal plants, habitats, sea level rise, and stormwater runoff. Karen has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from New College in Sarasota, Florida and a M.S. in Coastal Zone Management from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
Karen Duhring has 25 years of experience as a coastal management scientist. She has been with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Center for Coastal Resources Management since 1999. Karen presently serves as the Center’s outreach coordinator with programs, publications, and advisory service related to shoreline stabilization and living shorelines, coastal wetlands and riparian buffers, and conservation landscaping with native plants. Karen teaches Virginia Master Naturalist basic training classes covering coastal and estuarine ecology and management. Karen is the caretaker of the VIMS Teaching Marsh with help from Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers. This is a 1-acre demonstration wetland and riparian buffer habitat on campus where visitors and students can learn about coastal plants, habitats, sea level rise, and stormwater runoff. Karen has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from New College in Sarasota, Florida and a M.S. in Coastal Zone Management from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
Nancy Heltman, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Nancy Heltman has been with Virginia State Parks in the Department of Conservation and Recreation for 18 years. Currently serving as the Visitor Services Director, she manages the Visitor Experience, Community Engagement and Volunteerism, Marketing and Customer Service program areas. Prior to her tenure with Virginia State Parks she worked in the private sector. She has a B.A. in Government and MBA both from the College of William and Mary. She lives with her husband David in Sandston with two dogs and four cats.
Nancy Heltman has been with Virginia State Parks in the Department of Conservation and Recreation for 18 years. Currently serving as the Visitor Services Director, she manages the Visitor Experience, Community Engagement and Volunteerism, Marketing and Customer Service program areas. Prior to her tenure with Virginia State Parks she worked in the private sector. She has a B.A. in Government and MBA both from the College of William and Mary. She lives with her husband David in Sandston with two dogs and four cats.
John Munsell, Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension
John Munsell is an Associate Professor and Forest Management Extension Specialist in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. His role with the Virginia Master Naturalist Program is that of on-campus faculty contact. His teaching responsibilities include the department’s Agroforesty course and Human Dimensions Graduate Seminar. His areas of professional interest include: Private Forest Stewardship, Agroforestry and Whole Farm Planning, Bioenergy and Family Forest Sustainability, Collaborative Conservation and Integrated Natural Resources Problem Solving. He resides in Blacksburg with his family.
John Munsell is an Associate Professor and Forest Management Extension Specialist in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. His role with the Virginia Master Naturalist Program is that of on-campus faculty contact. His teaching responsibilities include the department’s Agroforesty course and Human Dimensions Graduate Seminar. His areas of professional interest include: Private Forest Stewardship, Agroforestry and Whole Farm Planning, Bioenergy and Family Forest Sustainability, Collaborative Conservation and Integrated Natural Resources Problem Solving. He resides in Blacksburg with his family.
Ann Regn, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Ann is the Director of Public Information and Outreach with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. As former director of the Virginia Office of Environmental Education, she worked with the Virginia Department of Education to strengthen environmental learning and align natural resource education within the Standards of Learning (SOLs). She is a board member of the Flora of Virginia and the founder of the Jefferson Chapter of the Virginia Native Plants Society. In 2003 she was named Environmental Educator of the Year by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Virginia Museum of Natural History honored Regn with its Thomas Jefferson Award for Conservation in 2013.
Ann is the Director of Public Information and Outreach with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. As former director of the Virginia Office of Environmental Education, she worked with the Virginia Department of Education to strengthen environmental learning and align natural resource education within the Standards of Learning (SOLs). She is a board member of the Flora of Virginia and the founder of the Jefferson Chapter of the Virginia Native Plants Society. In 2003 she was named Environmental Educator of the Year by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Virginia Museum of Natural History honored Regn with its Thomas Jefferson Award for Conservation in 2013.
Bob Smith, Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension
Bob is head of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials and Associate Dean for Extension in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Bob holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Forest Products Marketing, a MBA from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, and a B.S. in Wood and Fiber Utilization from Michigan Tech. Bob has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of wood science, business management, and forest products marketing. As an extension specialist for 14 years his work focused on assisting companies with business and marketing issues to help increase their competitiveness. His research efforts have focused in industrial marketing and new opportunities for wood in world markets. Prior to completing his Ph.D., he worked for a major U.S. manufacturer of wood products for 14 years as a production manager and sales representative in the Midwest.
Bob is head of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials and Associate Dean for Extension in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Bob holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Forest Products Marketing, a MBA from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, and a B.S. in Wood and Fiber Utilization from Michigan Tech. Bob has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of wood science, business management, and forest products marketing. As an extension specialist for 14 years his work focused on assisting companies with business and marketing issues to help increase their competitiveness. His research efforts have focused in industrial marketing and new opportunities for wood in world markets. Prior to completing his Ph.D., he worked for a major U.S. manufacturer of wood products for 14 years as a production manager and sales representative in the Midwest.