Russel Barsh (Director) studied at Harvard, taught at the University of Washington, and worked for many years at the United Nations on indigenous peoples and their ecosystems before returning to the Northwest and organizing Kwiaht with the encouragement of long time friend Ken Hansen.  With a background in human ecology he is especially interested in cultural and economic factors influencing human impacts on the environment, the role of schools, and adaptation of animals and plants to humans.  He lives on Lopez Island.

Bob Gamble (Trustee since 2006; Chair 2006-2009) is a familiar face in the San Juan Islands, a Washington State Ferry worker and community activist with a long history of public service including chairing the San Juan County Planning Commission.  Bob divides his time between Orcas Island and Waldron.

Dr. Gene Helfman (Trustee since 2009) taught ichthyology, animal behavior, and conservation biology at the University of Georgia for many years, and authored books on fish conservation book and ichthyology.  Gene also serves on a National Marine Fisheries Service Salmon Recovery Panel, and the San Juan County’s Salmon Recovery Technical Advisory Group.  He and his wife, Judy Meyer, retired and moved to Lopez in 2007. 

Shannon Hoffman (Trustee since 2006) has training in Low Impact Development  (LID) engineering and wetland delineation, and was employed by San Juan County as a storm water technician before going into private consulting practice.  Shannon has also been a member of the Board of the San Juan County Conservation District Board of Supervisors.    An artist and co-founder of the Lo-Co arts cooperative and gallery, Shannon raised her family on Lopez Island.

Chuck Scheitinger (Trustee since 2008; Chair since 2009) is an experimental physicist and Lopez resident who designed ultra thin films for uses including studying the sun and aiding microscopy of living cells while working for Luxel in Friday Harbor.  He now teaches chemistry and physics at Spring Street International School, San Juan County’s alternative high school.  Chuck is a member of the Salmon Recovery Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for San Juan County, and he lives on Lopez Island.

RETIRED BOARD MEMBERS:

Dr. Larry Moulton (Trustee 2006-2008) has over 30 years experience in North Pacific and Alaskan fisheries including managing studies on freshwater, anadromous and marine fisheries and the effects of harvest or habitat alteration on aquatic populations.  He served on the committee of the National Research Council charged with identifying cumulative environmental impacts of present and future oil and gas development on Alaska’s North Slope.  He lives on Lopez Island.

Shann Weston (Trustee 2008-2010) is well known as an environmental sciences teacher at Skagit Valley College and Spring Street International School, and more recently as the coordinator of the Washington State University Beach Watchers program in the San Juan Islands.  Shann is a long-time resident of San Juan Island.