Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Shelby is a lifelong learner with an ever-deepening appreciation for the natural world and for the people who dedicate their lives to conservation work. Beginning with her BA in Environmental Education and Environmental Science from WWU in Bellingham, Washington, Shelby has designed her education and early career for an interdisciplinary approach to addressing the tangled web of social and environmental challenges we face, with particular attention to studying how people work together to solve problems.

Since choosing Albuquerque as her home in 2017, Shelby has enjoyed diverse work experiences including: supporting conservation education programs for the USDA Forest Service, restoring wetlands at Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge, working on a small urban farm and managing food donations, and supporting water resources management with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. In 2018, Shelby collaborated with a group of youth activists across the Colorado Plateau to envision and organize the Uplift Youth Climate Justice Conference. As the ambassador for the Urban Waters Partnership with The Nature’s Conservancy’s Urban Program, Shelby engaged in coalition building to advance on-the-ground conservation projects and initiatives related to water conservation, urban forestry, biodiversity, equitable access to green space and urban heat impacts. She is the current Chair of the Arid LID Coalition, a local interdisciplinary group aiming to promote low impact development (LID) practices for a more resilient urban landscape.

As Executive Director of Talking Talons Youth Leadership (TTYL) Shelby is leading the organization in an exciting new chapter, building upon over 30 years of successful environmental education programs and partnerships. Shelby believes that if we can provide passionate young environmentalists with the right support system, including intentional and consistent investment in their personal and professional development, the next generation of environmental leaders can accomplish anything they set their minds to.