The Conservancy Mission
Is to protect our land and promote conservation and sustainable farming so that our community discovers a deeper connection to nature and each other.
Our guiding principles:
Conservancy Board of Trustees
Conservancy Staff
Sophie joined the Conservancy in 2023 as the Executive Director and brings over twenty years of experience to the position in her prior work as an urban planner and program director for nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Sophie served in a senior leadership role for the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on creating livable communities where she was responsible for the programming, operations and strategy for UrbanPlan, an education program which enables high school and university students, community members, and elected officials to redevelop a fictional site and engage in the complex tradeoffs that happen in the land use process every day in cities across the country. Before joining ULI in 2014, Sophie directed the LEED for Neighborhood Development program at the U.S. Green Building Council for six years where she worked with experts and staff to create a rating system for evaluating sustainable neighborhood projects.
Prior to that, Sophie worked at several historic preservation and planning consulting firms and the U.S. EPA, where she did research on the impacts of development on natural habitats. Sophie grew up in England and Canada, but has lived in the U.S. since moving there to attend university. She has a BA from Smith College, an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Urban Planning from Virginia Tech. Sophie serves on the board of Project GROWS, a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the health of children and youth through garden-based education and access to healthy food in the Shenandoah Valley. In her spare time, Sophie enjoys gardening, hiking, experimenting in the kitchen, running whether it be a marathon or along a local trail as well as spending time with her two children often cheering on their favorite soccer teams.
Following graduation, she began working as the Assistant Director for Conservation Burial Inc., a nonprofit cemetery company in Gainesville, FL that combines natural burial practices with land conservation. There, she helped manage one of the world’s first certified conservation burial grounds, Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery. Her experiences there grew a deep passion for engaging with her local community and building connections between people and the environment.
After a short stint living in Chattanooga, TN, she relocated to Northern Virginia in 2023 and is excited to get involved with the Willowsford community. In her free time she enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors, baking, and hanging out with her two cats, Juno and Dudley.
Having grown up in the hills and mountains of the Shenandoah, Taryn cultivated a love for the forests and farms of Virginia. She spent several years working on farms and ranches in Virginia and realized that managing land was where her passion lay. She went on to obtain a B.S. from Virginia Tech in Environmental Resources Management with a minor in Urban Forestry.
While studying at Virginia Tech, Taryn worked on a large wilderness operation, completing research on invasive plant removal and reforestation of native species. She managed an American chestnut tree orchard, monitored 2,500 acres of forest, and worked with the VA Department of Forestry to create a reference resources for landowners. Taryn later worked at Arborscapes in Richmond where she was an arborist and plant health care technician. She gained experience in the pruning and felling of trees, and in the diagnosis and treatment of plant disorders and pests.
Taryn joined the Willowsford Conservancy team in 2020 and she is excited to help achieve its vision. She is passionate about creating and conserving spaces where residents can better enjoy and understand nature. In her free time, Taryn can be found hiking the Appalachia or working in her garden.
I am very excited to be a Ranger with Willowsford Conservancy. Landscaping is in my blood. Since I was 13, I had several neighborhood clients who employed me to mow, mulch, weed, string trim their lawns. I was born in Russia and landed at Dulles Airport at 6 ½ months with my new Mother and Father on Christmas Eve. My sister, who also was adopted from Russia a year earlier, was waiting with family and friends. I graduated from Briar Woods High School in 2016. Throughout the years, sports were a big part of my life including Tae Kwon Do, soccer, volleyball and lacrosse (my favorite). Since graduating, I’ve taken classes at Northern Virginia Community College while working at various jobs.
I enjoy animals and have a Chinese water dragon and spotted gecko and the family has two “fat” cats and an old boxer. When I’m not working, you can often find me fishing, playing sports, generally enjoying the outdoors including the beach. I’m a huge ice hockey fan, especially the Washington Capitals. I love the time I get to spend outdoors working here. Every day is different, and I enjoy seeing all the wildlife including rabbits, deer, turkeys, etc. I’m happy to be a part of the Land Stewardship team and am excited to learn about conservation here at the Conservancy.
Originally from Michigan, Emily moved to Virginia for a seasonal position at Shenandoah National Park and fell in love with the plentiful mountain views, plants, and wildlife. In Michigan, Emily completed a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in ecology and evolutionary biology, and pursued a career in the field of conservation. During her time in college, she volunteered with the Michigan DNR, helped carry out restoration projects at county and state parks throughout Michigan, as well as assisting in an emerald ash borer monitoring program.
In her personal time as well, Emily loves to be outdoors. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, fishing, gardening, and anything else that will bring her out in nature. Emily is excited to bring her experience with tree care, restoration, and conservation to the team and Willowsford.
I have always had a penchant for the outdoors, it probably stems from my childhood where I was lucky enough to grow up in the small town of Letchworth, just north of London in the UK. It was one of the first modern day planned communities established in the 1800’s by a group of Quakers who were looking for a healthier way of life than could be found in the congested and dirty cities born of the industrial revolution.
Some of my fondest memories are of those warm summer days listening to musicians play on the band stand in the park, splashing in the paddling pools and walking with my mother through the commons on the way to school. As a teenager I played football in the green spaces and explored the trails through the countryside, farmland and woods that surround the town and are still there today. The green space has enabled the town to keep its identity in an otherwise world of suburban sprawl. Those old Quakers knew the value and beauty of the land and understood their connection to it. They didn’t use words like sustainability, conservation, recreation and lifestyle, they were farmers who valued the land and simply knew a healthier way to live.
As the Conservancy Ranger here at Willowsford I hope to find your connection to the land and its beauty, whether it’s through recreation, conservation, education or simply a love of the outdoors I hope that I can help develop a program that fits you.
As a project manager I have worked with local zoning, permitting, historic and civic groups to make sure that projects fit in with the neighborhood and community they serve. As a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and BSA Scoutmaster I have training and experience in youth leadership, trail construction and maintenance.
Andrew founded Grinnell Heritage Farm and farmed with his wife, Melissa, on family land which was settled by his great-grandparents in 1857. Andrew became interested in pursuing a career in organic agriculture while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. His agricultural and wildlife habitat interests stemmed from his upbringing in northeast Iowa while planting thousands of native trees and shrubs and gardening alongside his parents.
At Grinnell Heritage Farm this led to a growing 25 acres of organic produce, establishing pollinator gardens, seeding cover crops, planting beetle banks, and growing hundreds of thousands of plants for transplant in the greenhouse. These practices have been highlighted during field days by Practical Farmers of Iowa, NRCS, the Xerces Society, and numerous educational institutions.
The Dunhams have been recognized as leaders in agriculture, including receiving an Iowa Environmental Leader award. Andrew has a degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University. When not farming, Andrew enjoys spending time with his three children, reading, and exploring the natural world.
Rachel is new to the Willowsford Farm team, but has several years of experience working on certified organic fruit and vegetable farms. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where her love of the great outdoors was spurred by the beautiful and diverse terrain.
When not working Rachel enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her husband and pets.
Our Environmental Seeds
For some of us, we can recall the moments from our youth when our environmental seeds were planted. For many, it was through our parents and their guidance in nature : a routine hike, a family camping trip, a walk along the river’s edge to skip rocks or dig in the mud, building forts under our favorite tree, eating a fresh snap pea in the garden, or through attending a ranger led program at a nature preserve. And for some, those seeds grow into adulthood, producing humans who make it their life’s work to serve, protect, and share the natural world with others.
Each of our staff members can vividly remember those pivotal moments that planted the seeds that would bring us to where we are today. Read our stories below.
Job Openings
When available, we will post open positions here for our Farm team, Land Stewardship team, and Programs & Operations team. If you don’t see a position relevant to your area of expertise, please check back at a later date.
We currently don’t have any openings, but will post them here when we do.
Reports
Annual and financial reports allow us to share information with Willowsford residents and others who support the Willowsford Conservancy.
