The Adirondack Land Trust has hired two conservation professionals to fill the new positions of philanthropy assistant and land protection manager. Kathy Woughter is expected to play a role in building support for the Adirondack Land Trust’s mission and work to connect people to conservation work, with a focus on young and diverse constituents.

Before moving to the Adirondacks this year, Woughter worked in higher education in Western New York, most recently as Vice President of Student Affairs at Alfred University. Woughter has won awards as an ally for diversity and cultural unity. Her husband Bob is the principal of Keene Central School.

Megan Zack was brought on board to lead the Adirondack Land Trust’s efforts to work with communities, landowners and partners to protect lands and waters. She was born and raised in Northeast Pennsylvania and spent summers in the Adirondacks with her parents and two sisters on Balfour Lake in Minerva, near where her mother grew up.

Zack earned a B.A. in environmental studies from George Washington University and an M.S. in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University. After working for The Conservation Fund in Pennsylvania for several years, she is setting down roots where her mother’s family has lived for over 150 years.

These two new positions were made possible by donations from people who support the conservation efforts of the Adirondack Land Trust.

Founded in 1984, the mission of the Adirondack Land Trust is to forever conserve the forests, farmlands, waters and wild places that advance the quality of life of our communities and the ecological integrity of the Adirondacks. The land trust has protected 26,628 acres to date.

To learn more, visit adirondacklandtrust.org or contact info@adirondacklandtrust.org, (518) 576-2400.

Photos provided: Above, Kathy Woughter, philanthropy assistant; and Megan Zack, land protection manager.