Program Staff
Michelle Prysby, Program Director
Phone: 434-872-4571
Michelle served as the statewide coordinator of the Virginia Master Naturalist program from 2005-2012, returned in 2014 to serve as the Special Projects Coordinator, and became the director of the program in 2015.
She is an Extension faculty member in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech, but her office is in Charlottesville. She provides assistance to the state's 30 VMN chapters; teaches basic and continuing education courses; leads development of new training resources and program initiatives; and engages with sponsoring agencies, partnering organizations, and national organizations to support the program's mission.
Michelle loves working with the amazing cadre of VMN volunteers to benefit Virginia's natural resources. She has a particular interest in citizen science, and, as part of her Master’s research in ecology at the University of Minnesota, she started the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project.
Michelle's other professional roles have included Citizen Science Director at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and Director of Science Education and Public Outreach at the University of Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering for the Virginia Frog and Toad Calling Survey, hiking, biking, cooking, and playing old time fiddle. She is also an active Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer in the Rivanna Chapter.
Phone: 434-872-4571
Michelle served as the statewide coordinator of the Virginia Master Naturalist program from 2005-2012, returned in 2014 to serve as the Special Projects Coordinator, and became the director of the program in 2015.
She is an Extension faculty member in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech, but her office is in Charlottesville. She provides assistance to the state's 30 VMN chapters; teaches basic and continuing education courses; leads development of new training resources and program initiatives; and engages with sponsoring agencies, partnering organizations, and national organizations to support the program's mission.
Michelle loves working with the amazing cadre of VMN volunteers to benefit Virginia's natural resources. She has a particular interest in citizen science, and, as part of her Master’s research in ecology at the University of Minnesota, she started the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project.
Michelle's other professional roles have included Citizen Science Director at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and Director of Science Education and Public Outreach at the University of Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering for the Virginia Frog and Toad Calling Survey, hiking, biking, cooking, and playing old time fiddle. She is also an active Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer in the Rivanna Chapter.
Tiffany Brown, Program Assistant
Phone: 540-231-0790
Tiffany Brown is the volunteer and administrative support for the Virginia Master Naturalist Program. She serves as a liaison with volunteers by advising them on program policies and best practices, and responding to public and volunteer inquiries. Tiffany supports the VMN program by updating and maintaining program documents and assisting volunteers with the use of the online volunteer management system, Better Impact. She also handles logistics and planning for statewide and regional conferences and meetings, collects and compiles annual reports, and manages program budgets and accounts.
Tiffany works out of the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. She resides in Christiansburg with her two daughters, Amalie and River, whom she enjoys dragging out to go on adventures.
Phone: 540-231-0790
Tiffany Brown is the volunteer and administrative support for the Virginia Master Naturalist Program. She serves as a liaison with volunteers by advising them on program policies and best practices, and responding to public and volunteer inquiries. Tiffany supports the VMN program by updating and maintaining program documents and assisting volunteers with the use of the online volunteer management system, Better Impact. She also handles logistics and planning for statewide and regional conferences and meetings, collects and compiles annual reports, and manages program budgets and accounts.
Tiffany works out of the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. She resides in Christiansburg with her two daughters, Amalie and River, whom she enjoys dragging out to go on adventures.