Meet Our Team
Native Lands Restoration Collaborative is lead by a small staff and a board of directors that work together to shape the current projects and future goals of the organization.
Staff
Courtney Masterson
2023 - current
Courtney believes an intimate connection to our native landscapes will empower land stewards (that’s you!) to preserve and restore ecosystems that protect our water, soil, communities and cultures. Befriending plants strengthens one's connection to place - native landscapes are home to all people and our wild friends. Courtney is ready to introduce you.
Courtney earned a Master's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Kansas. Her undergraduate studies focused on Biological Sciences and Chemistry (University of Missouri - Kansas City) and Photography (Johnson County Community College). Courtney has been teaching science-related curriculum (ecology, biology, environmental science, and botany) at local colleges and in community settings for over 10 years. Her combined experiences in art and sciences help Courtney to communicate ecological concepts to broad audiences and build bridges between community partners.
Ecologist and Executive Director
Ryan Riedel
2023 - current
Ryan has a big heart for all things in nature. He's spent a great deal of his life exploring outdoors - hiking, camping, bird watching, and carefully checking for snakes and lizards under rocks. Ryan's broad skillset in everything from woodworking to welding, hoop house building to sustainable energy technologies, makes him the perfect fit as our Operations Manager. In this role, Ryan uses his creative brain to help us acheive our restoration goals, increase our capacity to serve communities, and teach our interns and volunteers a diversity of stewardship skills.
Ryan has earned multiple undergraduate degrees and certifications, focusing on welding, solar energy, smart house technology, and more. He is a lifelong learner, picking up new skillsets every year from his mentors in the community.
Operations Manager
Courtney King
2023 - current
aya Courtney King weenswiaani niila peewaalia neehi myaamia waayaahtanooki
iilaapiikasiaani (Hello, my name is Courtney King. I am Peoria and Miami. I am descended from the Wea People). I am studying for a BS in Environmental Science at Haskell Indian Nations University. I am very excited to be a part of the Native Lands team as a Student Intern. Over the past few years, I have fallen in love with Kansas; prairie, wetland, and woodland ecosystems. I am working every day to establish a deeper connection with our plant relatives while continuing to learn the language of Mother Earth. I approach stewardship by intertwining Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge with western science to maintain a spiritual
relationship with our non-human relatives while understanding their intricate biological processes.
I hope to return to peewaalia (Peoria) lands in Miami, Oklahoma, to holistically steward Mother Earth as my ancestors have for thousands of years. meetimankwiki kimehšoominaanaki (we follow our ancestors trail).
Student Intern,
Haskell Indian Nations University
Board of Directors
Wendy Holman
Board Chair
2023 - current
Wendy Holman was born and raised in rural eastern Canada and has always had a love for all things wild, especially reptiles and amphibians. She has a strong background in both environmental and traditional education and has taught middle school science in Alaska and Lawrence. She moved to Lawrence in 2017 with her partner Luke and has had a growing passion for prairies ever since. Wendy works as the Education Program Coordinator at the KU Field Station, where she is developing an environmental education program that will serve Lawrence and surrounding communities. She is excited to support the work of Native Lands as they help connect people to their environment.
Stephen Baca
Board Vice Chair
2023 - current
Bio coming soon!
Kristy McKinney
Board Treasurer
2023 - current
Bio coming soon!
Apolonia Arteaga
Board Secretary
2023 - current
Apolonia is a budding ecologist who believes that if everyone invests in their community, the daunting task of climate change mitigation becomes much more hopeful. Ap was born and raised in the Great Lakes, but loves the Great Plains just as dearly. She holds degrees in Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology and Environmental Studies from KU. Her time studying at the University of Costa Rica solidified her bilingualism and fascination with landscape ecology. Whether burning, seed collecting, chainsawing, or ripping out honeysuckle, she finds restoration invigorating! She is also an Outreach & Conservation Intern with the Kansas Land Trust. When home, Ap can be found cuddling with Kitty, reading, drawing, or bird watching.
Daniel Robinson
Board Member
2023 - current
Daniel Robinson is an urban grower of a variety of fresh produce and vegetables. He spent a couple of years researching and developing infrastructure in the non-profit agricultural sector, and currently a member of a few professional organizations. Daniel has been primarily focused on advocacy of land justice, equity, access and food sovereignty in our food system.
Sarah Morse
Board Member
2023 - current
Sarah Morse is a born-and-raised Kansan who is excited to have the opportunity to promote the conservation and restoration of Kansas' native ecosystems with Native Lands. Growing up, Sarah was encouraged to appreciate the outdoors. Early in her career, she learned about ways to use her legal training to advocate for the places she loved to explore. Now, she is thrilled to volunteer her time with organizations such as Native Lands that work to share the importance, diversity, and beauty of Kansas with others. Sarah lives in Topeka with her husband, daughters, and black lab.
Ted Abel
Board Member
2023 - current
Ted is a KU graduate (BS Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and later received a MS from the University of Central Missouri, with his research emphasis on integrated management techniques for difficult riparian invaders such as Reed Canarygrass. After finishing out his MS degree, Ted promptly changed careers and began working full time for KU Medical Center in 2016. Ted calibrates, optimizes and reprograms the campus energy management and building automation systems. Recent optimization and upgrade projects have resulted in a 30% reduction in energy consumption campus-wide. Ted also volunteers regularly with Grassland Heritage Foundation and helps Native Lands with certain types of management work such as prescribed burns. Ted lives in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City, MO, and owns rural property in Jefferson County, KS (including a prairie reconstruction site).