Welcome to Kelly Matheson

by Nancy Debevoise

WOC's new Greater Yellowstone Program coordinator Kelly Matheson had been in Wyoming for less than 24 hours when she reported for work. She had arrived in Lander after a marathon drive from Palmer, Alaska, her truck packed with camping gear, clothing, two dogs and a kayak. Taking one look at her road-weary, brain-challenged condition, WOC executive director Dan Heilig gave Kelly a one-day reprieve from the office, sending her out on a field trip with other WOC staffers and attorneys from Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund to Double Cabin and Brent Creek, north of Dubois.

It was a fine first day "on the job" for Kelly. The southern Absarokas' high peaks were dusted with new snow, the aspens were turning and the weather was Indian-summer perfect as the group hiked through pristine backcountry areas that conservation groups are defending against proposed timber sales and oil and gas development. (See related stories on pages 4 and 6.)

Kelly had heard about the job at WOC several months earlier, during her one-year stint clerking for the Alaska Superior Court, and couldn't resist firing off a job application.

"WOC is known for its pioneering work, even in Alaska," she says, "so I knew it was a major player in western environmental law. I jumped at the chance to work for such an organization. WOC has given me the opportunity to settle down in a community I love and use my experience as an educator and environmental attorney in doing important, long-term work."

Kelly received a B.S. in Business Administration from Drake University in Iowa in 1989. Graduating cum laude, she was on the dean's list and received the university's community involvement award. A decade later, she graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law with a law degree and a certificate in environmental and natural resources law. In between, Kelly worked as a corporate marketing director in Ireland and an environmental educator, outdoor leadership instructor and expedition coordinator in the western U.S. During and after law school, Kelly worked as a legal intern and law clerk for environmental law firms and nonprofits in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Tanzania.

It looks like the former nomad is finally settling down. Kelly's stored her kayak, at least for now, and recently added a sled-dog puppy to her dog herd. And she's looking to buy some land or a house in Lander.

"I hope I can make a difference in conserving Greater Yellowstone's public lands for future generations," Kelly says. "In addition to using my legal expertise, I want to help educate young people and adults about environmental issues and motivate them to get involved in campaigns to protect wildlife habitat, clean air and water and unspoiled wildlands for themselves, their children and grandchildren."