Board of Directors

Jan Knudson Co-TreasurerBoard of Directorsshe/her/hers Jan decided to join the Friends board after touring our Sucia Island restoration project. She recently retired from a long career in construction management. Jan brings experience in forest management, environmental impact analysis, land use, and environmental policy development, affordable housing, water treatment facilities, and habitat restoration.

Bob McPherson SecretaryBoard of Directorshe/him/his With a BS in Nuclear Engineering and an ME in Environmental Engineering, Bob began his career in the areas of radiation protection, nuclear criticality safety, and the fate and transport of radionuclides. For several years, he worked as a research scientist in the field of Health Physics. He later received ... read more

Joseph Cohen Board of Directorshe/him/his Joe and his wife Martha reside in Eastsound on Orcas Island. Joe’s passion is in empowering donors to increase their current and future legacy giving and enjoy the pleasure of meaningful contributions in their communities of interest. Joe’s undergraduate education was at the US Naval Academy, after which he served ... read more

Natalie Baloy Board of Directorsshe/her/hers Natalie Baloy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Western Washington University. Dr. Baloy’s work is informed by scholarship in critical Indigenous studies, settler colonial studies, and interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary collaborations toward transformation in context and community. She collaborates with colleagues across disciplines and institutions to design interdisciplinary courses ... read more

Matt Krogh Board of Directorshe/him/his Matt Krogh is a professional change-maker focused on issues of climate change, fossil fuels, and policy. Mostly based in Bellingham, Washington, he has spent his career in nonprofit activism at various organizations, including RE Sources for Sustainable Communities as the North Sound Baykeeper, and at Stand.earth as the US Oil ... read more

Erin Licata Board of Directorsshe/her/hers Erin holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from College of the Environment at Western Washington University. She began her career in industrial environmental compliance monitoring, which led her to a focus on environmental research, biological monitoring, GIS mapping, and youth-focused outdoor experiential engagement. Erin’s commitment is centered on ... read more

Raven Preston Board of Directors As a seasoned user experience researcher and communication strategist, I bring a unique blend of skills that can significantly contribute to the mission of Friends of the San Juans. My career is driven by a passion for leveraging data-driven insights to enhance user engagement and drive impactful change, which aligns ... read more

Tom Reynolds Board of Directorshe/him/his Tom and his wife Mariluz have resided full-time on Brown Island since 2011, and participated with Friends of the San Juans and adjacent neighbors on a beach restoration project in 2015, removing armoring and planting native beach grasses to encourage spawning of feeder fish on their collector beach. The project ... read more

Drew Harvell Science Advisor Drew earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1985 and is a researcher, professor, and author. Drew teaches at Cornell University where she is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She also researches and teaches out of the University of Washington Friday Harbor Marine Labs. ... read more