New Board Members

by WOC staff

WOC’s board of directors has elected two new members: freelance writer and conservation activist Nancy Debevoise from Dubois; and retired BLM Area Manager Darrel Short from Evanston.

Nancy, who has edited Frontline Report for the past three years, is an independent writer, editor and fundraiser. Before moving to Dubois in 1993, she was a communications consultant in Washington, DC to conservation nonprofits, including World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, the National Parks and Conservation Association and the Student Conservation Association.

In 1995, Nancy received a special merit award from the Wyoming Wildlife Federation for her work as chair of a habitat protection project for the upper Wind River valley. She served on the Federation’s board of directors from 1996-99, for two years as vice-president and chair of its public lands committee. The Wilderness Society profiled Nancy as a "champion of the land" in its 1999 report, 15 Most Endangered Wild Lands, for her activism on Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem conservation issues. Her features, essays and photographs have appeared in High Country News,Outside,Travel & Leisure,The New York Times,The Washington Postand other national publications.

"It’s a great honor to serve on WOC’s board," says Nancy. "Few conservation groups are blessed with such a strong board, dedicated staff, generous donors, committed members and tireless volunteers. I look forward to helping WOC continue to lead the way in safeguarding Wyoming’s wildlife, wildlands and environmental quality. "

Darrel Short was raised on his father’s ranch in South Dakota. After graduating from Utah State University with a BS in Range Management, Darrel went to work as a range conservationist for the BLM’s district office in Elko, Nevada.

Over the next 35 years, his work as a range conservationist, program administrator, management evaluation specialist and area manager for more than a million acres of BLM lands took him to Idaho, Washington, DC and Wyoming. Darrel retired from the BLM in 1998 to devote more time to working on conservation issues, supporting the Society for Range Management, participating in church and community activities and working with young people.

"Because of political interference from my supervisors and the users of BLM lands — mainly the ranching, mining and oil and gas industries," Darrel recalls, "there were numerous times during my career when I was not allowed to manage for true resource protection. Serving on WOC’s board will allow me to share my expertise with an organization that shares my commitment to the proper management, use and protection of our public lands."