NWRA Staff
Evan
Hirsche, President
nwrapresident@refugeassociation.org
As president of the NWRA since 2001, Evan Hirsche is responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, financial management, and conduct of the Association’s conservation and advocacy programs.
Evan has more than 17 years of public policy advocacy, campaign and fundraising experience in Washington, DC. Previously, he served as Policy Director for National Audubon Society’s Public Policy Division where he managed Audubon’s national policy priorities and Washington, DC staff. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Hirsche was Director of Development/Senior Refuge Policy Advisor for Audubon’s Public Policy Division where he led fundraising efforts to support Audubon’s ongoing issue work, while also providing guidance and leadership on the organization’s efforts in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
From 1996–1999, he was Director of Audubon's Wildlife Refuge Campaign. In 1999, US
Fish and Wildlife Service Director, Jamie Clark, awarded him the “Refuge Hero” award for his efforts to build support for the Refuge System. Prior to his leading Audubon’s Wildlife Refuge Campaign, Mr. Hirsche directed Audubon’s Arctic Refuge Campaign (1995-96) as part of a successful collaboration with other organizations to defeat an oil drilling proposal for the refuge’s fragile coastal plain. Before Audubon, he worked briefly as Public Policy and Communications Specialist at the National Wildlife Refuge Association. In this capacity, he helped increase federal appropriations for refuges as a founding member of CARE. In the early ‘90’s, Mr. Hirsche worked at Defenders of Wildlife, first as an appropriations lobbyist and grassroots organizer, then as Defenders’ Wolf Program Coordinator, overseeing efforts to restore wolves to Yellowstone National Park and the Southwest United States.
Evan is also an accomplished wildlife and nature photographer whose images have been published in Audubon, Defenders, and AAA magazines, and in calendars, brochures, annual reports and websites. He was born and raised in Williamstown, MA, and received a B.A. in Politics and Government from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH.
Desiree Sorenson-Groves,
Vice-President of Government Affairs
dgroves@refugeassociation.org
Desiree directs the Association’s government affairs activities including: development and execution of legislative and regulatory strategy; advocating policies and programs in Congress and the Executive Branch; analyzing legislation; development of Congressional testimony and communication tools, including position papers, testimony, speeches and articles for publications. Assist NWRA President in implementation of strategic plan and goals of organization.
Prior to her current position, Desiree served as NWRA’s Director of Grassroots Outreach and was responsible for identifying, educating and mobilizing local conservation constituencies to support national wildlife refuges across the country with the goal of increasing community awareness, volunteer involvement and advocacy on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Before joining NWRA, Ms. Sorenson-Groves was the Assistant Director of Grassroots for the National Audubon Society, where she also served as the Audubon representative on the Teaming With Wildlife Steering Committee, promoting the goals and objectives of the Congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans.
An Iowa native, Desiree was born into politics, participating in four Presidential Caucuses, with more active roles in the presidential races of Gov’s. Dukakis in '88, and Clinton in '92. Desiree earned her B.A. in Geography and Political Science from George Washington University.
Anne Truslow, Vice-President of Strategic Programs and Development
atruslow@refugeassociation.org
Anne is charged with the development and implementation of NWRA's strategic conservation programs, which includes our Beyond the Boundaries initiatives to conserve biologically significant landscapes surrounding and linking national wildlife refuges and other vital habitats. In addition, Anne directs NWRA's philanthropic development efforts with focus on foundation relations and individual giving.
Anne joined the staff at NWRA after four years as Director of Development at The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, one of the nation's oldest land conservation organizations. At the Forest Society, Anne led capital campaigns for land and easement acquisitions and worked to advance landscape-scale conservation initiatives such as the Quabbin to Cardigan Partnership in New Hampshire and Massachusetts as part of the Forest Society’s 25-year vision to conserve one million acres by 2026.
Anne worked at The Trust for Public Land from 1997 to 2004, where she worked on such landmark projects as the 171,000-acre Connecticut Lakes Headwaters in northern New Hampshire, the expansion of the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and additions to the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. She brings to NWRA a range of experience, from operational fundraising and project financing to building local coalitions in support of land conservation efforts. Anne graduated with a B.A. in History from Middlebury College, and now lives in Washington, DC and Antrim, NH (along with her dog Henry, above).
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Claire Stoker, Communications Associate
cstoker@refugeassociation.org
Since joining the NWRA in the summer of 2006, Claire has played an integral role in developing NWRA’s communications and marketing strategies. In addition to overseeing the highly visible Refuge System Awards and Digital Photography Contest, she manages the website and serves on the Friends Conference planning team.
Originally from the Chicago area, Claire came to Washington, D.C. after graduating from the University of Richmond (VA) in 2006 with majors in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish.
Debbie
Harwood, Office Manager
dharwood@refugeassociation.org
Debbie performs the administrative tasks necessary to keep the office functioning smoothly, such as routine bookkeeping and maintenance of membership databases. Prior to joining the NWRA staff, Debbie roamed the country, teaching mathematics at community colleges in Ohio, Texas, and California.
Cissy
Russell, Graphic Designer
nwra@refugeassociation.org
National
Wildlife Refuge Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 407
Washington, DC 20006
202-333-9075
202-333-9077 (fax)
