Palouse Land Trust welcomes new Executive Director
Late last year, the board of directors of the Palouse Land Trust was tasked with the crucial duty of finding the next leader in land conservation on the Palouse. After a careful, nationwide search, the Palouse Land Trust is thrilled to announce the appointment of Lovina Englund as Executive Director.
Lovina comes to the Land Trust with over 11 years of involvement in local conservation, and 15 years spent living on and loving the lands of the Palouse region and north-central Idaho. She received her Master’s in Rangeland Ecology from the University of Idaho in 2007, and has served as an Outreach Coordinator for the UI’s Rangeland Center and most recently as an Agricultural Resources Coordinator at the Palouse Conservation District. Lovina not only brings an impressive resume and fantastic energy and intelligence, but a true passion for supporting local people, local land, and local values.
Transitions always come with an element of uncertainty, but the Land Trust could not be more excited to have Lovina coming on board and we’re extremely excited for the future. “Being at a land trust requires a deep appreciation for place, community, and the natural world,” says Nick Norton, the Palouse Land Trust’s Interim Executive Director. “It was immediately clear to me that Lovina has this ethic in spades and really understands the heart of our work. Not only that, she brings incredible leadership experience to our team, as well as a combination of thoughtfulness and can-do attitude that will help us further our positive impact on the Palouse and its people.” Once Lovina begins in early June, Nick will remain on staff and continue to support the organization’s conservation and stewardship programs.
“Land Trusts fill such an essential role to our very way of life in this region. I am so eager to take this next step in ensuring that the lands that mean so much to all of us will be protected in a way that benefits everyone in the entire community. This job is truly a match made in heaven for me and I can’t wait to start connecting with the PLT family,” Lovina shares with a beaming smile. “My door will always be open.”
Outside of her professional career, Lovina is an avid runner, and loves to hike and backpack with her dogs. She is excited to meet PLT supporters and members out on the trails, especially when the wildflowers are in full bloom. “I’m a plant nerd,” she chuckles as she pulls her phone out to share her favorite native plant ID apps. “I love, love, love native flowers and plants!”
When she’s not out exploring the forests and trails of the area, you can usually find her in the kitchen, sharing her love of food and cooking with family and friends, particularly the Dining Divas of the Palouse, a ladies cooking club she has belonged to for many years. Lovina is also a fervent reader and loves digging into her book club selections.
Be sure to follow our events page and our PLT and Idler’s Rest Facebook pages for upcoming events and opportunities to meet Lovina this summer, or drop her an email here. If you’re in Moscow, please accept our open invitation to stop by the Land Trust offices to offer words of welcome, share input and ideas, or just say hello.