MEET OUR TEAM

Our program leaders include the following: Exhibits and Curatorial Programs Director Heather McMordie, Mentorship Director Derek Russell, Media and Outreach Manager Alex Hopwood, Video Editor & Producer Lizzie Brown, Creative Content Manager Deanne Fernandes, and Performing Arts Fellowship Program Director Maura Nguyen Donohue.

Our Executive Director is Dr. Lucy Spelman, who founded the organization in 2015. Watch her TEDxProvidence Talk.

Our Board of Directors includes Melissa Torres (Chair), Dr. Bianca Brown, Nicole Merola, Nick Jainschigg, Samantha Dempsey (Core Team Liason and Board Secretary), Maeve Donohue, Cameron Little, Sophie Niemann and Dr. Kate Smith. Dr. Lucy is an Ex Officio member.

Our Writer-in-Residence is Susan Tacent. Our Poet-in-Residence is Christopher Kondrich. Dr. Lucy, Christopher, and Susan are co-editors of Creature Conserve’s first book, to be published by University of Minnesota Press in January 2025, Creature Needs: Writers Respond to the Science of Animal Conservation. Order here!