Jan joined Conservation Legacy in May, 2019. She launched the North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps (NCYCC) in 2013 and served as its Program Director while at Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC). Prior to starting NCYCC, she served in development and communications positions for CTNC, a statewide land trust serving 23 local land trusts across the state. Prior to CTNC, Jan was the Director of Environmental Education for Legacy, Inc., an Alabama non-profit that partnered with state agencies to deliver environmental education materials and training to K-12 teachers. Jan’s love for education is rooted in teaching, especially middle school that she taught for five years.

Her love for the land stems from growing up on a Kansas wheat and cattle farm. With impactful times abroad as a Rotary Scholar and international community service volunteer, Jan hopes to provide the same kind of experiential educational experience for others through service in a Corps. Jan earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Kansas State University and a M.S. in Geography from the University of Alabama. Away from the office, Jan can be found running through local neighborhoods, figuring out how to raise two teenage daughters with her husband, and nurturing a dog and two cats.

Silas (he/him/his) started exploring North Carolina and working with CCNC in 2020. As a born and bred Mainer and a recent graduate of the University of Montana, he’s excited to be back east to work for people and landscape. Silas worked in the corps world through college and served a term crew-leading with Montana Conservation Corps after graduation. He loves the complexity of this work and is always learning more about the interpersonal relationships, ecologies and technical skills that make it possible. He also loves vintage mountain bikes.

Zach has a background in leading conservation corps crews in Vermont and Colorado as well at home building crews in Tennessee. Zach believes that the corps model is one of the best ways to give young people the opportunity to grow their skills and personal connection to place. Originally from the Shenandoah Valley, he is proud to see his community supporting conservation service and education.

Michelle joined the Appalachian Conservation Corps family in early 2018 with a background in archaeology and conservation corps programming. She's worked with Conservation Corps North Carolina since 2019. Michelle was born and raised in Maryland, earning her degree in Sociology/Anthropology from St. Mary's College of Maryland. She then spent several years working in contract archaeology before serving in a 1700 hour AmeriCorps term with Coconino Rural Environment Corps where she work in and led conservation crews around Arizona. The Corps world was life-changing for Michelle—the community, the impact, the challenge. After several more years of field archaeology, she returned to Arizona Conservation Corps as Recruitment and Member Support Manager. In 2017, Michelle returned to the east coast for the humidity and to be closer to family. She loves unintentional puns, action movies, food, succulents, hiking, her husband Jon and her dog Lilah. She is passionate about the outdoors, community and the impact of Corps programs.

Robert worked in both State and Federal legislative bodies before beginning his work in conservation. He spent a season working on a backcountry chainsaw crew in Utah, and then came back East to lead crews for ACC. After leading three crews in projects that ranged from battlefield restoration, disaster response, trail building and maintenance, and boundary marking, he began his position as program staff. Robert has found his passion in conservation work, and hopes to use his background to shed light on the importance of National Service as it relates to young adults, their communities, and the public lands they serve in.

Eleanor has been with Appalachian Conservation Corps since 2017, assisting with Conservation Corps North Carolina since 2019. She started as a crew member, then led 6 crews, including a disaster deployment, before transitioning to staff. Her degree is in Geology and Sculpture, but she grew up with crafty parents, and has been doing carpentry, metalwork, and yardwork from a young age. She has found her niche in the Corps world, with its variety of work, its funky people, and its diverse opportunities. Eleanor enjoys every opportunity to teach new skills to members and leaders; she especially likes being able to put her line cook experience to good use, making sure everyone is eating well in the field!