Lance Craighead, executive director
Lance is a field ecologist, population geneticist, and GIS technician with several years of experience in conservation planning. His current research interests focus on aspects of conservation planning based upon focal or umbrella species: population and metapopulation persistence, gene flow, habitat connectivity, core habitat, and protected areas. Lance has published numerous scientific papers, completed three book chapters, and published one book: "Bears of the World". Lance has been the Executive Director of the Craighead Institute since 1994 and focuses his time coordinating research; helping synthesize results, and directing communications, fundraising, and development. After graduating from Carleton College in 1969, Lance went to work for the Peace Corps in Fiji and Samoa. He then received his M.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied seabirds in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska. After 10 years living in Alska, Lance completed a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Montana State University studying grizzly bear genetics in the Alaskan arctic. He is currently a Research Affiliate Professor in the Ecology Department at MSU, and a member of IUCN World Committee on Protected Areas, Society for Conservation Biology, and Society for Conservation GIS.
E-mail Lance at lance [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
E-mail Lance at lance [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
Brent Brock, landscape ecologist
Brent holds a BS in Wildlife Biology and MSc. in Rangeland Ecology from Kansas State University. He was the Data Manager at the Konza Prairie Biological Station studying bison grazing ecology before joining the Wildlife Conservation Society where he conducted a landscape level wildlife conservation assessment of the Madison Valley in Montana. His emphasis at Craighead Institute is in incorporating the theories of landscape ecology into the conservation of large complex ecosystems and their linkages. For the past several years he has worked to develop GIS-based tools and new strategies to improve land use planning and landowner stewardship in the Madison Valley. Brent has also founded Treewalkers International, an organization that is dedicated to saving the world's amphibians...one poisonous dart frog at a time.
E-mail Brent at bbrock [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
E-mail Brent at bbrock [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
April Craighead, wildlife biologist
April holds a B.A. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of California and a M.S. in Biology from Montana State University. Since joining the Craighead Institute in 2000, April has worked on a variety of research projects including the American pika and climate change related projects which include Resurveying Historic Pika Locations in Montana, Changes in Alpine Plant Communities project, Montana Pika Survey which involves implementing a citizen science project for pikas in Montana, and she was part of the team that studied long-term road ecology on Bozeman Pass.
April loves to spend time outdoors hiking, skiing, and enjoying wildlife with her husband Lance, and their daughter Willow. E-mail April at april [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
April loves to spend time outdoors hiking, skiing, and enjoying wildlife with her husband Lance, and their daughter Willow. E-mail April at april [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
Karl Cowan, GIS specialist
Karl is the Craighead Institute's GIS Specialist. Karl has a background in G.I.S., and data management. He enjoys spending time with his family, especially camping, fly fishing, hiking, observing, and exploring. He also enjoys playing hockey with the "Flying Zambonis" in the BAHA Rec League.
Email Karl at karl [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
Email Karl at karl [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
Jonquil Nelson, development director
Jonquil has a background in development and community outreach. She studied at the University of Denver and received her bachelors degree in environmental science and her masters degree in environmental policy and management with a focus on natural resource management and endangered species reintroductions. Jonquil is the founder of Sage Gardeners, a philanthropic organization that reconnects seniors to their gardening roots by providing raised and accessible organic gardens to elderly in need. She is a 7 time marathoner, and spends her free time gardening, camping, canoeing, and exploring Montana and Wyoming with her family and their lovely dog, Lucy.
E-mail Johni at jonquil [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
E-mail Johni at jonquil [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
John DiBari, landscape ecologist
John holds a PhD in Renewable Natural Resources (University of Arizona) with an emphasis in landscape & wildlife ecology and spatial analysis; MS in Environmental Studies (University of Montana) with an emphasis in land use planning; BS in Geography (Southeast Missouri State) with an emphasis in cartography (minor in Earth Science). His professional, research, and academic experiences provide a unique blend of ecology, planning, and spatial analysis. John's work focuses on activities related to human settlement patterns, wildlife habitat, landscape connectivity (wildlife movement), and resource protection. John has worked as a planner in Missoula County, MT and currently sits on the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board. His experiences position him well to work in a broad range of settings associated with the built and natural environments, especially at the interface of the two.
E-mail John at jdibari [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
E-mail John at jdibari [at] craigheadinstitute [dot] org.
