Missy’s lifelong passion is conserving and restoring habitat for threatened and endangered species as well as migratory birds, upland birds, and big game. As the USFS Rocky Mountain Region Wildlife Program Leader, she provides oversight and wildlife program direction to 11 national forests and grasslands, six of which overlap with the PLJV region. She also works with state and national partners to enhance wildlife habitat and coordinates monitoring to support science-based management.

The collaboration between the Forest Service and PLJV benefits these grasslands by promoting their biological importance while supporting rangeland productivity for communities that rely on them. On the PLJV board, Missy enjoys the opportunity to work with leaders from other federal agencies, conservation organizations, state wildlife agencies, and companies that strive to support a conservation mission. While her focus has always been on wildlife conservation, she realized early in her career that building relationships with partners is the key to success. Now that is a favorite part of her job.

Missy received a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and master’s in ecology from Colorado State University. She joined the Forest Service in 1998, and has worked as a wildlife biologist across forest, shrubland, and grassland ecosystems.

In her free time, Missy and her family love to find adventure in the outdoors including skiing, hiking, and biking.