The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project is addressing obstructions to wildlife corridors and designing solutions for safe passage for people and wildlife. Learn more at www.smokiessafepassage.org. Nikki manages conservation projects, coalitions, and initiatives that Wildlands Network is pursuing in North Carolina. She has worked with land trusts and other natural resources agencies dedicated to solving complex issues and discovering solutions for nature by fostering collaboration and community support.

Her career as a science communicator and educator spans across diverse ecosystems from the Florida Keys, to the Rocky Mountains, and the Southern Appalachian Mountains. She earned her master’s degree in plant biology at the University of Vermont in the Field Naturalist and Ecological Planning Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in environment and natural resources from Clemson University, with a concentration in conservation biology.