WHO WE ARE: BOARD & STAFF

STAFF

Andy Mossey

Executive Director

Melissa Peterson

Land Acquisition & Stewardship Manager

Hannah Birenz

Communication & Outreach Manager

Miranda Javid

Program Manager

Andy Mossey, Executive Director

andy@woodstocklandconservancy.org
Skiing, cycling, backpacking, climbing, and wandering in the woods are the activities that brought Andy outside. Once there, he unlocked a deep passion for speaking up for public lands without a voice. Since the beginning of his career, Andy has worked with non-profit organizations and land management agencies to ensure that public access to lands across the United States is protected, and sensitive ecosystems are preserved. Andy comes to Woodstock Land Conservancy after working for the Catskill Center and before that, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Andy holds a B.S. in Expeditionary Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh. When Andy is not in Woodstock, he can be found exploring a new section of trail or remote corner of the world.

Melissa Peterson, Land Acquisition & Stewardship Manager

melissa@woodstocklandconservancy.org
Melissa is passionate about environmental conservation and protecting open space and has experience working on ecologically and sustainably focused projects which strive to support people and nature. Melissa was raised in Oregon, taught science as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia, worked in community reforestation for the Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti, and later settled in New York to raise her family. She most recently worked for the Orange County Audubon Society and has also assisted the Orange County Land Trust. Melissa is an avid plant enthusiast, bird watcher, and naturalist. Melissa holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Linfield College and a Master’s degree in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University. She is also a Master Gardener and holds a Permaculture Design Certificate.

Miranda Javid, Program Manager

miranda@woodstocklandconservancy.org
Miranda's love of the outdoors began while managing a community garden to combat food insecurity in Baltimore almost 20 years ago. When she's not working on environmental conservation, she is probably either gardening, hiking or drawing with home-made inks in her studio. Miranda holds a BFA from Maryland Institute College of the Arts and an MFA from University of California Irvine. She has taught at the college level, founded a volunteer network and has experience as a volunteer herself with land trusts. When it comes to both art and ecology, Miranda prioritizes observation and deep listening. She believes that attention is the most important part of learning and that, as humans, it is our responsibility to pay close attention to our impact on planet earth.

Hannah Birenz, Communications and Outreach Manager

hannah@woodstocklandconservancy.org
Hannah came to land conservation by way of a decade in editorial and documentary production—including work on Emmy-nominated and Tribeca-premiering projects—alongside farm work, a graduate degree in photojournalism, and a persistent interest in how places get seen and represented. She has moved back to the Catskills more than once. Hannah brings experience in writing, editing, publishing, and visual media to her role at WLC, where she handles communications, outreach, press, and the Wednesday Weekly. She holds an MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication and a BA from NYU Gallatin. When she's not working, her full attention is on her dog Teddy.

Marissa Trojan, Seasonal Land Steward

marissa@woodstocklandconservancy.org
Marissa grew up in Kingston, where a high school volunteer project with the American Eel Project sparked a love for environmental fieldwork that has only deepened since. She has returned to volunteer with the eel project every year, and brings that same sustained commitment to her work at WLC. Marissa holds a degree in Geography from SUNY New Paltz, where she developed expertise in GIS mapping, spatial analysis, and environmental research. Her fieldwork has included assessing heavy metal contamination in her home community and studying second-growth forest recovery. When she's not in the field, she can be found watching critically acclaimed films, listening to experimental pop and indie rock, or exploring somewhere new.