Meet the
Staff
Brian Ritter
Executive
Director
About Brian
Brian Ritter is the Executive Director of Nahant Marsh and the Program Director for the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) Conservation program. He teaches EICC courses on site and uses Nahant preserve as an outdoor classroom.
Brian began serving at Nahant Marsh in 2007 and has overseen the growth of the marsh during that time. His hobbies include biking, botanizing, hiking, paddling, cooking, gardening, and raising goats on his small acreage near the marsh. Brian also enjoys volunteering for several other conservation-related boards and committees.
Elizabeth Schramm
Director of Operations
and Donor Relations
About Liz
Elizabeth Schramm is the Director of Operations and Donor Relations at Nahant Marsh. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and her Master’s degree from Western Illinois University in Biology. She started at Nahant in the summer of 2011 as an AmeriCorps Naturalist. Elizabeth enjoys traveling, baking, reading, crafts, and exploring the outdoors with her family.
Amy Loving
Director of
Education
About Amy
Amy Loving is the Director of Education at Nahant Marsh. She received her bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. Amy has a long history with the Marsh, dating back to her college internship. Her role is to cultivate a stellar education program that supports the Marsh's vision of fostering wonder, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural world.
In her free time, Amy enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, going for long walks, listening to a good book, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Victoria Edwards
Director of Development
About Victoria
Victoria Edwards is the Director of Development at Nahant Marsh. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from St. Ambrose University. During her time at St. Ambrose, Victoria first encountered Nahant as a volunteer during a service-learning course in early 2012. Victoria returned to Nahant in fall of 2014 as an AmeriCorps Naturalist.
Victoria enjoys live music, cooking, camping, traveling, being crafty, and spending time with her family.
Kinsey Nielsen
Natural Resource
Manager
About Kinsey
Kinsey Nielsen is the Natural Resource Manager. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and has been at Nahant since September 2016. She served as an AmeriCorps Educator for three years before accepting her current position.
Kinsey enjoys whitewater kayaking, camping, hiking, catching butterflies, gardening, and traveling the world.
Colin Shirk
Marketing & Events
Coordinator
About Colin
Colin Shirk has been at Nahant Marsh since 2021, serving as a summer education intern, followed by two terms as an AmeriCorps Naturalist. Colin now serves as Nahant's Marketing & Events Coordinator. Colin completed the Conservation Technology program through Eastern Iowa Community College and Nahant Marsh in 2021.
In his free time, Colin is a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator working for The RARE Group in Iowa City, Iowa, and enjoys photography, birding, traveling, hiking, and anything else outdoors.
Liv Humphrey
Administrative Assistant
and Volunteer Coordinator
About Liv
Liv Humphrey has been at Nahant Marsh since 2023, serving as the Volunteer Coordinator and Administrative Assistant. She earned her bachelor's degree in environmental science with an emphasis in sustainability at San Diego State University.
In her free time, Liv enjoys practicing yoga as a licensed instructor, being out in nature, reading, painting, and spending time with her loved ones. She looks forward to working with all of the wonderful Nahant volunteers!
Jimmy Wiebler
Naturalist and
Research Coordinator
About Jimmy
Jimmy Wiebler has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Augustana College and a master’s degree in Biology from Miami University.
Jimmy's research background includes studying how reptiles and amphibians survive the winter. As coordinator of Nahant Marsh's summer research, Jimmy has mentored students in the ecological study of various wildlife, including turtles, snakes, bats, and more.
Jimmy is also an experienced educator that has been delivering environmental programming at Nahant Marsh for several years. He enjoys hunting and cooking wild game, birding, and spending time with his kids.
Allison Nodurft
Naturalist
About Allison
Allison Nodurft serves as a full-time Naturalist. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa and studied Conservation at Eastern Iowa Community College. Prior to serving at Nahant, she taught Elementary Physical Education for five years. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, camping, hiking, birding, archery and bushcraft.
Emily Schallert
Seasonal
Naturalist
About Emily
Emily Schallert is currently serving as a Seasonal Naturalist at Nahant Marsh after serving as a summer education intern in 2022. She recently completed the Conservation Technology program at Eastern Iowa Community College.
In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, reading, riding horses, and spending time with friends.
Alyssa Klauer
Seasonal
Naturalist
About Alyssa
Alyssa Klauer has been at Nahant Marsh since 2023, currently serving as a Seasonal Naturalist. She earned her bachelor's degree in public health and anthropology with a minor in Spanish at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.
In her free time, Alyssa enjoys traveling to national parks, trying local foods/drinks, crafting, making jewelry, biking, climbing mountains, and exploring tide pools with her friends and family. Alyssa looks forward to sharing bits of nature with the QC community.
Zach Strong
Natural Resource
Crew Member
About Zach
Zach Strong has been working as a Conservation Technician on the Natural Resources 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 has an 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.
Madeline Kull
Natural Resouce
Crew Member
About Maddie
Madeline Kull is completing her Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management with a minor in Environmental Science from Western Illinois University-Quad Cities.
She began volunteering with the Natural Resources crew in 2015, and joined as a part-time crew member in 2017. Maddie also takes care of Nahant Marsh's Animal Ambassadors.
In her spare time, she enjoys creating new things, spending time with her pets, reading, and traveling.