Prairie Rivers’ staff of highly qualified experts and activists is supported by your generous contributions.
Glynnis Collins, Executive Director
Glynnis took over the leadership role as Prairie Rivers Network’s Executive Director in July 2008. Previously one of PRN’s Water Resources Scientists, her work focused on ensuring that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency followed the Clean Water Act requirement to set protective standards for the amounts of harmful pollutants that can be in our waterways. She also has experience in watershed-based ambient water quality monitoring and has done research into the fate and transport of nitrogen in water. She has worked with permit applicants, advocacy groups, municipalities, and local citizens—all of whom we communicate with in our clean water work on a regular basis. As Executive Director, Glynnis brings with her an intimate knowledge of PRN’s program work and forward-thinking, pragmatic leadership to continue our important work. Glynnis has a B.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology and M.S. in Biology. Contact Glynnis at (217) 344-2371 or gcollins@prairierivers.org.
Steph Adams, Development Coordinator
Steph joined PRN in May, 2008. She comes to PRN with several years of development, outreach and public relations experience for environmental and other non-profit organizations from a western land trust to women’s rights in Africa. Steph has also gotten her feet wet with other river organizations: She worked for the River Alliance of Wisconsin and was a volunteer for Utah Rivers Council. Steph is currently assisting PRN with special events, publicity, and grantwriting. Steph has a B.S in Economics and a M.A. in Public Policy Analysis. Contact Steph at (217) 344-2371 or sadams@prairierivers.org.
Traci Barkley, Water Resources Scientist
Traci Barkley joined PRN in 2005 and works to reduce pollution entering our rivers and streams by ensuring that municipalities, mining operations, and industries follow Clean Water Act regulations that include specific limits on the amount of pollution allowed to be discharged into a river or stream. Previously, Traci worked for IEPA where she was involved in water quality monitoring; provided technical assistance to the public, local watershed groups, and state agencies; and was involved in statewide discussions related to water quality standards and criteria, NPDES permits, and TMDL development. She also coordinated River Watch volunteers for the Illinois EcoWatch program, a citizen monitoring program that tracks ecological trends in Illinois. Traci is a former PRN volunteer with a B.S. in Ecology and M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. Contact Traci at (217) 344-2371 or tbarkley@prairierivers.org.
Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist
Stacy James joined PRN in 2006 and works to reduce urban and agricultural stormwater pollution entering our rivers. Stacy also represents Prairie Rivers Network on a multi-state collaborative effort to reduce pollution entering the Mississippi River. Previously, Stacy was a post-doc for the U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center in Missouri, where she conducted research on the effects of contamination on aquatic organisms. Her dissertation at the University of Missouri assessed how amphibians respond to cadmium contamination in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Before enrolling in graduate school, she worked all over the U.S. as a seasonal technician for bird, mammal, amphibian, reptile, and plant projects. Stacy has a B.S. in Biology and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and Conservation Biology. Contact Stacy at (217) 344-2371 or sjames@prairierivers.org.
Kim Knowles, Water Resources Specialist
Kim joined the staff of PRN in November 2008. She works to strengthen clean water policy in Illinois and to reduce the amount of pollution entering our rivers and streams. Kim is a former staff attorney for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment and has a long history of working in the public interest, including working with Native American communities. In New Mexico, Kim worked as a staff attorney for Indian Pueblo Legal Services and as a public defender for the Jicarilla Apache Tribe. During law school she worked for The National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C. She has a B.S. in economics, an M.A. in public policy and a J.D. Contact Kim at (217) 344-2371 or kknowles@prairierivers.org.
Alison Meanor, Water Resources Advocate
Alison Meanor joined PRN in 2009 as our Water Resources Advocate. Her work focuses on developing workshops to provide capacity building training for individuals and groups throughout Illinois who are working to improve the health of our rivers and lakes. She was previously employed by the U.S. EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office and the Illinois State Geological Survey. Alison has a B.S. in environmental science and has completed graduate studies in land use ecology and environmental planning. Her research includes conducting an environmental site assessment for a proposed rails-to-trails project and, with the Illinois State Natural History Survey, studying the effects of biological control of purple loosestrife. Alison is an East Central Illinois Master Naturalist; her volunteering focuses on prairie and savanna restoration, environmental education, and volunteer coordination. Contact Alison at (217) 344-2371 or ameanor@prairierivers.org.
Vickie Nudelman, Office Manager
Vickie Nudelman joined PRN in 2005 and maintains all the financial and member records for PRN. Previously, Vickie worked for the Mississippi Center for Community and Civic Engagement as the program coordinator of a service-learning grant that focused on improving civic education by utilizing college students as civic tutors to K-8 students in after-school programs. Vickie also previously worked as a technical writer where she coauthored several computer textbooks. Vickie has a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and Marketing. Contact Vickie at (217) 344-2371 or vnudelman@prairierivers.org.
Cecily Smith, Water Resources Specialist
Cecily Smith joined the PRN staff in 2007. Her program work includes: protecting wetlands and streams by reviewing and commenting on applications for projects that will severely disturb or destroy these water resources; keeping our waters clean and aquatic species healthy by educating citizens and health care providers on proper disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals; and protecting instream flows by participating in water supply planning efforts in Illinois. Cecily is a former PRN volunteer with a B.A. in English, a J.D., and a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in environmental policy.