Our Team

Ingrid's love for the outdoors was sparked by the vivid contrast between the hustle and bustle of New York City and the peaceful beauty of the Boundary Waters. Starting at just four years old, she made annual trips with her family from the city to Ely, Minnesota, where she fell in love with nature. Since joining Save the Boundary Waters in 2015, Ingrid has worn many hats, from Arrowhead Regional Organizer to Development Director and Interim Executive Director. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from Carleton College, where she focused on Conservation and Development, and also earned her degree in Nonprofit Management and Governance from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Passionate about environmental advocacy and community engagement, Ingrid is dedicated to protecting the special places she loves.

A born and raised (and will never leave for any reason) Minnesotan, Alex has been in the outdoors, Northwoods, Northshore, Boundary Waters and beyond since before he could walk. He has the extreme pleasure of now introducing his children to the Boundary Waters and watching them dip their paddles, drink from a lake, and listen to the loons and wolves. Alex has worked on electoral, grassroots and issue advocacy campaigns for the past decade and looks forward to dedicating all his time and attention outside of his family to preserving the Boundary Waters for generations to come. Alex studied biology at St. Olaf College.

Before joining the Campaign, Matt worked as campaign director with Minnesota Environmental Partnership, and as forestry and wildlife advocate and staff attorney for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Matt is an avid wilderness hiker, paddler, hunter and angler, and enjoys few things more than introducing people to the BWCA.

Sam inherited her love of the Boundary Waters from her family -- her grandpa took multiple canoe trips for many summers and passed on that tradition. Prior to joining the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters in 2014, Sam worked on grassroots efforts to advance environmental conservation and social justice in Minnesota for many years, including leading the nonprofit organization Environment Minnesota. She studied biology and botany at Gustavus Adolphus College. Sam loves spending time outdoors with her young kids!

Niki attributes her appreciation for wide open spaces to having grown up in Montana. She has been with the Campaign almost since its inception, first as a contractor and most recently as an employee. She brings over 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience and has worked with a wide variety of organizations.

Growing up swimming in Minneapolis and Northern Minnesota lakes, Libby learned to cherish the natural beauty of the Boundary Waters. With over a decade of experience working in strategic communications in the public sector, she worked at several environmental organizations before joining Save the Boundary Waters in 2019. She led fundraising and digital & communications strategy at a hunger relief advocacy nonprofit, was the head of communications at an organic farming education nonprofit, and started an emerging farmer incubator cooperative.

She studied art history and environmental sustainability at the University of Minnesota for her undergraduate degree and received a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Additionally, she received a graduate certificate from the Yale School of Public Health, "Climate Change and Health," focused in public policy and applied communication.

As a lifelong Minnesotan, Kelsey believes in finding an outdoor activity you enjoy every season to get outside in nature. She brings over a decade of fundraising experience to her role and a passion for connecting people with causes that are meaningful to them. Kelsey graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double major in Psychology and Communications and graduated with a MBA from Hamline University in Nonprofit Management. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys trail running, doing any outdoor activity involving her dogs, and planning her next adventure.

Originally hailing from Colorado, Amanda developed a deep love and obsession for the outdoors early on. She holds a B.S and MA degree in Physical Geography, and fell in love with the Boundary Waters long before ever stepping foot in the Wilderness. After canoeing in the beautifully still water, hearing the loons call at night, and catching her first 20-inch largemouth bass, she remains even more dedicated to protecting this special place. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her dog Motley, hiking, playing ice hockey, and occupying the front row of a concert.

Megan was born and raised in Minnesota and took many trips to the Northwoods throughout her life. This fueled her love for the outdoors and passion for paddling, hiking, camping, and snowboarding. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Strategic Communications & Design. Megan is passionate about storytelling, protecting the environment and planning adventures in the woods. Since joining Save the Boundary Waters, Megan has moved to Ely, Minnesota to be closer to the Wilderness. 

Born and raised in Minnesota, Lisa holds a degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the Campaign, Lisa led canoe and dog sled expeditions in and around the Wilderness for nearly 10 years. In 2016, while canoeing the magnificent Missouri-Mississippi River system from its source in Montana to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, Lisa realized just how unique and valuable the Boundary Waters really is. On that 200-day expedition, drinking water had to be hauled along and resupplied - filtering or chemically treating it wouldn't remove the agricultural and industrial pollution so commonplace in the river. Returning home to the clean, drinkable waters of Superior National Forest and the BWCAW was both a gift and a motivation to defend this precious resource for the generations to come.

Corinne first ventured into the Boundary Waters on annual family trips starting at seven years old. While finishing her degree in Parks and Recreation from the University of Vermont, Corinne returned to Ely to become a wilderness educator, leading canoeing, hiking, and dogsledding trips in the Boundary Waters. After five years and many nights spent in the woods, Corinne became a permanent resident of Ely and now enjoys exploring the local trails with her dog, picking wild berries in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. 

Jess is originally from Illinois but has been visiting Ely and the BWCA since she was young. Growing up, Jess's family would visit Ely at least twice a year, with one of those visits including a BWCA trip. She has degrees in education from Carthage College and National Louis University and a degree in marketing from Arizona State University. After leaving teaching, Jess wanted to work for an organization she cared about using several skills from her teaching life. Although her husband has never been to the Boundary Waters, they are planning his first trip next year. She spends her time reading, participating in various Ely events and activities, and hiking with her husband and dog, Millie.

Maddie grew up in South Dakota near a quiet lake, spending her days kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming. After moving to Minnesota to attend the University of Minnesota, she fell in love with the state’s landscapes and welcoming community, quickly making it her home. Maddie brings a background in fundraising and communications, driven by her passion for building relationships that inspire people to engage with meaningful causes. In her free time, she enjoys Minnesota’s natural beauty through activities like inline skating, hiking scenic trails, and discovering hidden gems in the wilderness.

Having grown up in a small town in Minnesota, Katilynn’s love of nature has been nurtured by a community culture of outdoors-iness. She has long been happiest with her hands in the soil and ear to the birds, and her appreciation of wilderness really sprouted once her family started traveling and hiking the Northwoods and Northshore while she was in middle school. Before joining the Campaign, Katilynn served as an AmeriCorps at the University of Minnesota Extension, supporting communities in implementing the sustainability projects that are important to them. She graduated from Luther College in 2022 having studied sociology, environmental studies, and music. In her free time she loves to bake, create art and music, and read as many books as she can.

Originally from the East Coast, Gillian first turned up in the Boundary Waters as a youth expedition guide and never turned back. While in the Wilderness area, she feels as if she is the best version of herself, with nothing else mattering besides the trees and water surrounding her. In her seasons away from the North Woods, she pursued labor as a Trail Worker in various parts of the country, with a special emphasis in professional timber falling. She has a degree in English Literature from Virginia Commonwealth University, with focused study areas in Environmental Studies and Outdoor Leadership. In her free time, you can find her in a nearby yoga studio, chatting up the local librarians, or convincing anyone who will listen to check out the "Normal Gossip" podcast. 

Ben is a native Minnesotan and has been going on backpacking and Boundary Waters trips since his childhood. He is an enthusiastic hiker, biker, and Nordic skier and is passionate about sharing his love of wild places with others. Ben is currently a college student at the University of Minnesota Duluth studying Environment, Sustainability, and Geography.