by Michaela Johnson, 2nd Vice President and Nominating Committee Chair
At Audubon Society of Omaha’s March board of directors meeting, the board voted in three new directors. These ambitious, young conservationists will bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to expand ASO’s reach and impact within our community and native habitat. We are excited to welcome Ashleigh Stohlman, Nick Romero, and Kyle Finley to our Board of Directors.
Ashleigh Stohlman is a founding member of the UNO Audubon Student Conservation Chapter. She served a full executive term as its Treasurer, and now leads the Fundraising Committee. Graduating this May with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Chemistry minor, she is excited to continue her work through the Audubon Society of Omaha chapter. Through Conservation Nebraska and various management roles, she has grown to be an effective leader. Her connection to UNO will be instrumental in enhancing our opportunities to collaborate and engage with young professionals.
Nick Romero is a motivated and energetic law student at Creighton University, passionate about environmental policy. He has bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and International Relations, with a minor in Business Administration. He also serves as Co-President of the Latino Law Students Association and as the Financial Coordinator of Business Law Society. His dedication to creative collaboration is inspiring and will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset toward increasing our community’s environmental awareness and understanding.
Kyle Finley is a brilliant individual with a diverse array of interests. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in IT Innovation and Biomechanics. He has bachelor’s degrees from UNO in both Native American Studies and Computer Engineering/Information Assurance. He currently works as the CEO of Quantum Electro Dynamics and is a Research Assistant at UNO. He volunteers his talents to several organizations through graphic design, website development, and video and audio production. At UNO, he participates in several volunteer groups, including the Intertribal Student Council, Project Achieve — Students Against Hunger, and many more. Finally, he serves as the lead for the UNO Native Garden Project, an on-campus garden that includes unique native plants, many of which are of special significance to Native peoples. Through the use of native plants, this garden serves as a prime example for our urban Audubon chapter by creating a micro-habitat for birds and pollinators in a city environment.
The entire board is eager to get to know these new champions of conservation. Their official terms last two years and will begin July 1, 2022. The search for leaders in conservation never ends. If you or someone you know may be interested in future opportunities to serve on the board, please reach out to mjohnson@fontenelleforest.org
