The Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition has announced Megan (Walker) Karschner as its new executive director. Karschner has lived and worked in the Yampa Valley for the past 15 years, promoting sustainability through education and other nonprofit, community-based efforts.

 Karschner came on board with the coalition after serving for the past year as an adjunct faculty member for Sustainability Studies at Colorado Mountain College. Previously, Karschner taught at Steamboat Montessori and served both as a naturalist and as the director of youth programs for Yampatika.

A graduate of Colorado Mountain College’s Outdoor Education and Sustainability Studies programs, Karschner earned a master’s degree from Western Colorado University in environmental management, with a focus on building sustainable and resilient communities.

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Over the years, Karschner also worked as a professional tutor, instructing college students in topics such as sustainability, biology, ecology and environmental science. She has served as a 4-H leader, taught beekeeping workshops, provided educational and service-learning programming at the Bear Park Permaculture Center, and created a business — Meg’s Eggs — that sells eggs, honey and jam.

Prior to her appointment as executive director, Karschner was involved with the coalition as a volunteer and through previous event attendance.

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Karschner shared that she is “honored” to have been selected for her new role and excited to be a part of the coalition.

“This organization has already accomplished so much through its efforts to protect the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes and their habitat,” Karschner said. “I look forward to continuing that work and to inspiring regard for the natural world through the appreciation of this iconic species.”

Since the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition’s founding in 2012, it has concentrated on providing public education to ensure the protection of the Rocky Mountain population of Greater Sandhill Cranes.

Coalition president Nancy Merrill was enthusiastic about Karschner’s “background in sustainability, as well as her teaching skills and her enthusiasm for cranes and nature,” observing that her appointment will help take the coalition “to the next level” of crane conservation work.