Meet the Staff

Brian Ritter is the Executive Director of Nahant Marsh and the Program Director for Conservation Technology through the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) and the Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC). He teaches EICC courses on site and uses Nahant preserve as an outdoor classroom. He also teaches a course at Saint Ambrose University. Brian has overseen operations at Nahant Marsh since 2007 and has began and sustained many environmental education programs, biological research projects, and natural resource management practices. His hobbies include hiking, paddling, organic gardening, cooking, camping, and fishing.

Jevonnah Foster is the Natural Resource Manager at Nahant Marsh. She has an Associates degree in Natural Resources Conservation and a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science. She’s spent 3 summers interning with the Natural Resources Conservation Service where she was mainly involved with the Wetland Reserve Program. She enjoys many outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, and kayaking.

Amy Loving is the Education Coordinator at Nahant Marsh. She received her Bachelors degree from Western Illinois University in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. She completed an internship in 2009 at Nahant. After, she worked as a AmeriCorps member and Seasonal Naturalist for Scott County Conservation Board at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center for two years. She returned to the Marsh in the fall of 2011 and served two full-time AmeriCorps terms before accepting the position as Education Coordinator. Amy enjoys exploring wild places, nature photography, cooking, arts and crafts, and most of all, spending time with her family.

Lindsey Kennedy is the Marketing and Special Events Coordinator at Nahant Marsh. A Clinton, IA native, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art at the University of Northern Iowa and a Master’s degree in Arts Management from the University of Oregon. She has spent the past 10 years working at arts, history, and science non-profit organizations in Oregon, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Davenport. She enjoys traveling with her family, nature, music, cooking, and a good laugh.

Liz Schramm is the Program Specialist/Naturalist at Nahant Marsh. She received her Bachelors in Biology from Truman State University in 2008 and her Masters in Biology and a certificate in Zoo and Aquarium Studies from Western Illinois University in 2011. She served as an AmeriCorps member at Nahant from 2011-2013. Liz accepted the position of Program Specialist/Naturalist in and is the 2015-2016 AmeriCorps Site-Supervisor.  In her spare time, she loves hiking, boating, reading, and baking.

Jenna Skopek is an AmeriCorps member serving as a full-time naturalist educator at Nahant Marsh. She received her Bachelor’s of Environmental Science degree from the University of Dubuque in 2015. While attending the University, she spent a month in Paraguay assisting on a wide range of research projects. She also conducted research for three years on mussels of the Mississippi River. Jenna enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, cooking, and traveling.

Kinsey Nielsen is an AmeriCorps member serving as a full-time naturalist at Nahant Marsh. She has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and has spent the past three summers performing water quality and habitat surveys in Midwest wetlands. Kinsey enjoys whitewater kayaking, camping, hiking, catching butterflies, playing pickleball, and traveling the world.

Eric Shershen is a part-time AmeriCorps member serving since the beginning of October, 2017. He is currently a senior biology and environmental studies double major at Augustana College and conducts research on mosses under one of his professors. Eric enjoys hiking, playing Ultimate Frisbee, biking, botany, and eating ice cream.

Kory Darnall  has worked on the Nahant Marsh natural resources crew for 5 seasons. He is a University of Iowa graduate and is a full-time Social Worker when not at the Marsh. Kory volunteers for a number of  projects and causes including the Schuetzen Park Historic Site,  Davenport City Cemetery, the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management and The Ocean Conservancy.

Zach Strong has been working as a Conservation Technician on the Natural Resources Management crew at Nahant Marsh since spring 2015. Zach has served ten years in the army, and has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cuba. He is currently finishing his Associate’s Degree in Conservation at Muscatine Community College. He is an avid outdoorsman and jack of all trades. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and trapping.