Heather Hulton Vantassel, PhD
Executive Director
Heather Hulton VanTassel is an environmental conservationist passionate about nature-based solutions that lead to the sustainability of our planet and equality for all. Heather’s passion began in a small rural community in Western Pennsylvania and flourished as a first-generation college student at Carlow University majoring in Biology. Heather went on to earn her doctorate degree in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The University in California, Riverside (UCR). Heather has held positions at UCR's Center for Conservation Biology as a Research Specialist, Audubon South Carolina as a Program Manager of Sustainable Solutions, The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina as the State Conservation Coordinator, and at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History as the Assistant Director of Science and Research. Heather has had formal training and certification as a Master Naturalist in South Carolina's Lowcountry, Project Management Professional, Wetland Delineator, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace practitioner. Heather has a strong passion for both the environment and equity and believes that working towards sustainability also requires an equal effort towards social environmental justice. In her free time, Heather enjoys hiking, spending time with her friends, family and pets, and (of course) recreating on our Three Rivers!
