The Peregrine Accelerator for Conservation Impact program wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners who have graciously agreed to serve as mentors and proposal evaluators to our applicants.
While only a maximum of 12 teams will be accept into the program, The Center wants to make sure that all applicants walk away with something valuable from the experience since it takes time and resources to develop a proposal. Getting substantive feedback from regional and subject matter experts on the strengths and opportunities for improvement on proposals is one of the significant benefits of applying to this program.
These evaluators were selected for their experience, curiosity, and passion for watershed health, climate resilience, and social equity. They will provide a thorough review of each application submitted, and each applicant team will receive feedback from a minimum of five evaluators to help them strengthen their approach and solutions. Since they play such an important role in the program, take a moment to get to know a few of the evaluators who will be investing their time and energy in this work!
Be sure to check out the full list of evaluators and their bios.
Joni Carswell, Texan by Nature
Joni Carswell is the CEO and President of Texan by Nature (TxN) where she is responsible for leading the mission to bring business and conservation together. In 2011, Mrs. Laura Bush founded Texan by Nature to unite conservation and business leaders who believe the state’s prosperity is dependent on the conservation of our natural resources. The organization amplifies projects and activates new investments in conservation which returns real benefits for people, prosperity, and natural resources.
Prior to Texan by Nature, Joni was the President and CEO of family engagement platform LivingTree, where she drove strategy, technology, and community involvement, helping over a million users at school districts across the country deepen family engagement. Under Carswell’s tenure, LivingTree more than tripled its user base each year, and was also recognized with the Stevie Women in Business Gold Award for Community Involvement Program of the Year and Silver Award for Mobile App of the Year. Previously, Carswell held leadership roles in planning and strategy at Polycom and Dell where she managed three-year planning for multi-billion-dollar product portfolios.
“As a fourth-generation Texan, it is an absolute honor to lead Texan by Nature in our effort to becoming a greater catalyst for natural resource conservation in Texas and the nation,” said Joni when she was named to the leadership position at Texas by Nature. “I am excited to take the helm at TxN and apply the growth strategy, data-based frameworks, and collaboration that have yielded success in business and technology. I look forward to working with all TxN partners, Texas communities, industries, and leadership in creating a true conservation economy in Texas – one that benefits our prosperity, people, and natural resources for generations to come.”
Joni is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management (Masters, Business Administration) and Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering (Masters, Engineering Management), is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, and served on the Advisory Board for the Kellogg Women’s Business Association. Joni holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University and currently serves on the External Advisory Board for the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management.
Rio de la Vista, Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center at Adams State University
Rio shares her experience with local, regional, and international nonprofit organizations, land and water issues, community groups, and landowners to help grow the next generation of conservation and water leaders.
She is the former director of the Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center at Adams State University, where she led the Center’s two main initiatives:
- The Rio Grande Natural Area Initiative: Starting in 2018, the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University launched an initiative for the congressionally designated Rio Grande Natural Area (RGNA), encompassing the Rio Grande River corridor in Colorado from the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge south to the New Mexico state line (see map). This effort is in conjunction with community, government, and organizational partners to implement the recommendations of the RGNA Commission and their Management Plan released in 2015.
- The Water Education Initiative: This effort engages Adams State University in water issues and opportunities to enhance its relevance to the community and the changing economy, and to serve as an educational and project partner to increase water literacy, assist in projects, and grow the next generation of water leaders. A key element of this initiative is the integration of water educational content into academic courses across disciplines and to offer students and the community compelling activities that deepen their water knowledge.
Prior to joining the Salazar Rio Grande Center, Rio worked with the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust for nearly 20 years, helping to develop and implement the Rio Grande Initiative, which conserved over 25,000 acres of land and water along the Rio Grande and Conejos River. She is the environmental representative on the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable in addition to several other committee and board positions.
She was honored with the National Wetlands Award in 2011 for her work in the San Luis Valley. In 2020, she was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the Regents of the University of Colorado, for her years of work in conservation. In 2022, she was named a Conservation Hero for Advocacy by the Keep It Colorado coalition of land trusts. Rio is grateful to live on a family ranch at the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Colorado, and treasures time spent in the mountains and on rivers.
Nathan Fey, Mighty Arrow Family Foundation
Nathan is the Land & Water Program Director for the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation (MAFF), underscoring the foundation’s dedication to climate action, clean water and public lands.
“As we strive to create bold and transformational change, intentionally spending down our fund in the coming years, Nathan will be a vital part of executing that strategy in a way that brings the greatest benefit to our NGO partners and western landscapes,” said Jordana Barrack, Executive Director of the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation. “His expertise on land and water issues and experience engaging diverse partners will help ensure our grants have the greatest possible impact at a time when action is needed most.”
Previously, Nathan served the State of Colorado as the Director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Division within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, where he oversaw the cultivation of Colorado’s $62.5 Billion Outdoor Recreation Economy. He partnered directly with the Governor’s office to create policies that promote business recovery and growth, the conservation and stewardship of Colorado’s public lands and waters, advance the state’s education and workforce development programs, and improve public health and wellness through outdoor participation.
Prior to working for the State, Nathan was active in the non-profit conservation community and has spent over 20 years working with federal and state agencies, national and statewide non-profits, and local community groups across the Southern Rockies and intermountain west.
Do you have an innovative idea for conservation solutions in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River Basin? Do you want to connect with a network of industry leaders and experts like those mentioned here? Then you should apply for the Peregrine Accelerator! Learn more about the proposal requirements and be sure to submit your application, in English or in Spanish, before the deadline on Monday, November 21 at 5:00 p.m. MST.