Meet Our Executive Director
As part of our Stream and Riparian Restoration project, Josh joins partners at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to install beaver dam analogs in a degraded western stream. This work is crucial in the region, where many streams are unhealthy and beavers have been largely extirpated.
Josh joined the Sageland Collaborative team in June 2020, bringing with him over ten years of experience as an executive director in the nonprofit sector. He has been critical to expanding and deepening Sageland’s conservation work over the past two years. If you’ve volunteered with us, you’ve probably seen Josh’s passion for conservation in the hours he spends hammering stakes for stream restoration or felt it in his excitement hiking to remote mountain sites to place wildlife cameras.
Josh both supports new conservation projects and adapts current work to address deepening ecological problems. Read our interview with Josh to get to know him a little better, and feel free to contact him with any questions.
What do you love most about wildlife, lands, and living in the West?
I love feeling both secluded and surrounded in the open spaces of the West. Getting away from the bustle and sameness of everyday city life and experiencing the solitude of the mountains or desert recharges me. At the same time, I become more aware of the wildlife around and remember that kinship we have with everything around us.
Josh pauses while recording data on a Wasatch Wildlife Watch camera in the mountains of Utah. This project serves to support large-scale wildlife conservation work in one of the fastest-developing areas in the United States.
How did you discover your passion for wildlife and conservation?
As the youngest of three boys, I didn’t often get time alone with my dad. One day when I was maybe seven or eight years old, the two of us went on a hike together. We walked along a trail in the Uintas, and I marveled at the trees. Our family hiked almost every summer weekend in Big Cottonwood Canyon, but I had spent my younger years focused on the trail, rocks, and streams.
Standing at on overlook that day alone with my dad, I took in the expanse of trees stretched out before us. The sheer beauty of the forest struck me for the first time. I asked, “Dad, what are there more of in the world, people or trees?” He shot right back, “Trees, thank God!” I remember a feeling of relief when I heard his response. And the rest is history!
What drew you to Sageland Collaborative?
I always thought I would be an archaeologist. I studied geography and anthropology as an undergrad, focusing on how people relate to their environments. Then I got married young and started to worry about how I would ever get a real job, so I got a master’s degree in public administration and international relations. My interest in people and cultures went global!
After grad school, my wife, Ashley, and I joined the Peace Corps and went to Armenia. That combination of schooling and experience led to several years of rewarding work in global health. However, I still felt drawn to that initial interest in people and the environment and started looking for something new. When I saw the opening for Executive Director of Sageland Collaborative (then Wild Utah Project), I was so excited. It felt like a perfect fit, and like a homecoming.
Tell us about some of the accomplishments you're proudest of during your time at Sageland.
I’ve only been with Sageland Collaborative for two years, but it’s been eventful. One of the things I’m proud of during that time is our rebrand. I am thrilled with how the process went, the name and logo we chose, and the positive reception from all corners.
Most of all, I am proud of how respected our team is. Our scientists—Mary, Janice, and Rose—are dynamic leaders in conservation who get so much done. Our communications and outreach team—Sarah and Carter— have such heart and talent. It’s a pleasure to work with our amazing people.
What means the most to you in your work? What brings you the most joy?
Like many people, I have been concerned about the environmental disasters unfolding around us. Seeing the effects of climate change, worsening drought, and extinctions can leave anyone feeling helpless. That might not seem like the most joyful opening to this answer, but the fact that I get to come to work every day and focus on real conservation action means so much to me.
I also find meaning in giving other people a way to transform the frustrations of climate change into important work. The volunteer opportunities we provide help others get involved in meaningful ways. There’s only so much one person can do, but each of our efforts are amplified by a united group dedicated to positive change.
Josh records milkweed and monarchs as part of the Utah Pollinator Pursuit project. This project documents habitats for monarchs and bumblebees, allowing for effective conservation planning. In the face of huge threats like climate change and pesticide use, this kind of work is essential to ensuring these species persist into the future. Photo by Janice Gardner.
What do you look forward to most in the future of Sageland and Western conservation as a whole?
I look forward to expanding the work that Sageland Collaborative does. That’s essentially why we changed our name. Our work already goes beyond the borders of Utah, and I look forward to growing more, both in terms of geography and in terms of depth and impact. There’s so much to do, but there’s also a lot of potential.
What would you say to others looking to get involved with conservation?
That’s another thing I’m proud to share about Sageland Collaborative. If you want to get involved in conservation, you are welcome here. There is a place for you among warm, committed people dedicated to restoring habitat, protecting species in need, and promoting habitat connectivity. If you want to get involved, please do.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend as much time as I can outdoors and moving around. I love to paint and focus on landscapes, which is another great way to get outside. I have recently taken river guide training and do martial arts as well.
What books have you loved recently that you might recommend?
I loved How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith. He explores how the history of slavery is communicated in America in a variety of contexts. I also enjoyed Water: A Biography by Giulio Boccaletti, Fuzz by Mary Roach, There There by Tommy Orange, and The Return by Hisham Matar. I could go on and on.
Born and raised in Utah, Josh spends as much time as he can outdoors. He has a master’s degree in political science and public administration and a bachelor’s degree in geography and anthropology from the University of Utah. Josh has over 10 years of experience as a nonprofit executive director. Josh has worked in global health and with rural Utah community health centers. He also served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia focusing on education and community development. In his spare time, Josh explores the Utah outdoors with his family, paints landscapes, and writes.