Our Staff
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Julie joined as the Executive Director of the Coldharbour Institute in 2024. Originally from eastern Washington, she relocated to the Gunnison Valley in 2014 to serve as High Country Conservation Advocates’ Water Program Director. Her collaborative approach in that role involved engaging diverse stakeholders to tackle complex land management issues.
Her love for working and natural landscapes was cultivated at a young age. As a girl she was exposed to the relationship between agriculture and wetland restoration on her uncle’s farm in Wisconsin. She worked in Yellowstone National Park during summers off from the University of Washington. A position with Elephant Energy in law school allowed her to work on renewable energy policy for Namibia, creating recommendations for feed-in tariffs as Namibia explored off-grid solar opportunities. These early experiences fostered an interest in how to meet community needs while treading lightly on the land. Julie graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2011. After graduation she launched her career in western land management issues through appointments with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), Colorado Law School’s Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment, and Western Water Assessment. In these positions she found it fascinating to explore challenges and opportunities to sustain communities, cultures and ecosystems through collaborative resource solutions. Her passion for sustaining our ecosystems is matched by a dedication to supporting the agencies and non-profits that address some of our hardest questions in sustainability. She serves as the board president of Colorado Water Trust and as a board director for the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District. Joining Coldharbour is the next chapter in this progression. Outside of the office, she spends her time exploring Colorado’s mountains and rivers with her husband and two overly enthusiastic rescue dogs. |
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Molly is our Graduate Assistant, tasked with helping us coordinate our educational opportunities and internships in regenerative practices. Originally from northeastern Pennsylvania, Molly completed her undergraduate degree at Allegheny College where she studied environmental science and sustainability and double-minored in global health studies and political science. Her senior thesis was titled “Ground Cover Under Tree Canopies on the Allegheny College Campus: Assessment and Recommendations” and centered around incorporating native plants under campus trees to promote biodiversity and support wildlife. She increased her understanding of land management techniques while completing an internship with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a habitat management intern.
Molly moved to Gunnison to continue this journey and pursue a graduate degree that engages both public and private land management and is in Western Colorado University’s MEM program. Molly enjoys kayaking, gardening, and spending time outside with her dog. |
2024-25 Fellows
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Dani Laird is serving her second term as a Coldharbour Institute Research Fellow while entering her second year of a dual master’s in environmental management (MEM) and science in ecology (MSE) at Western Colorado University. Dani has an undergraduate degree in environmental economics from St. Lawrence University and has built a strong foundation in environmental studies and public lands management by working on the landscape. She spent this past summer surveying endangered species in the San Juan Mountains for her master’s work.
In her role this year, Dani will be focused on revising the Ranch’s Compatible Use Agreement (CUA) and developing a management plan for noxious weed mitigation. She continues to support our organization’s researchers and shares their findings with the community. |
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Megan Locher is beyond passionate about amphibians and wetland restoration. She became fascinated by amphibians while earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has expanded this passion to include restoring the habitats that amphibians thrive in and is now jumping in muck-boots first to learn about wetland restoration.
Megan is also pursuing a joint Master of Science in Ecology and a Master of Environmental Management at Western. Her work with Coldharbour will focus on assessing and monitoring an ongoing wetland restoration project on the eastern floodplain of the property. Feel free to reach out to Megan to learn about our wetland restoration activities and about our froggy friends who live at Coldharbour Ranch. |
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Adrian Randle is our 2nd year Master of Environmental Management Graduate Student. Adrian is a talented artist and looks for ways to blend his artistic skills with serving the community.
"I am an artist and a builder blending my passions and professions for community sustainability and ecological housing development. I feel most in my element when I'm outside getting my hands dirty or sketching and designing my ideas. My dream is to one day become a master carpenter building natural homes fit for the people, and the local flora and fauna." Adrian has been working on developing his restoration skills through working on low-tech process-based restoration projects in Montana, exploring the Montana backcountry while working with students to restore wetland ecosystems. Adrian will be serving as Coldharbour Institute’s Outreach Fellow and helping us to share the news about our programming. |
Coldharbour Institute Governance Documents
Document Retention Policy
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Whistleblower Policy
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Financial Policy | ||
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