Staff
Meet the People Behind IFA's Work
Jeff Stant
Executive Director
No one knows Indiana’s forests better than Jeff. As IFA’s executive director since 2013, his passion to protect and preserve Indiana’s priceless wilderness treasures is second to none.
DEIDRE PETTINGA, PH.D.
Director of Operations & Communications
Deidre has spent her career in marketing and communications, as a professor as well as a practitioner. She has an extensive management background in both for profit and nonprofit organizations.
Jennifer christie
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Jennifer has degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Purdue University. She has worked as an Environmental Chemist and Outdoor Educator. For over a decade, Jennifer was a leader in a global clinical trial company. A Master Black Belt (MBB) in Lean Six Sigma, she has used her leadership skills to serve many organizations, especially focused on climate change and biodiversity.
Rae Schnapp, Ph.D.
Director of Conservation
Rae, whose thesis work was on plant cellular responses to environmental stresses, has applied her Purdue University credentials to her conservation and research work, from IFA’s Ecoblitz surveys to the Economic Study.
rae@indianaforestalliance.org
EMMA STEELE
Outreach Coordinator
Emma is a community organizer with a background in geology and communications. She started as a communications intern with IFA in 2019 and now helps mobilize IFA members to protect Indiana’s forests.
MYRNA TRUMP
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Myrna has spent her career as a nonprofit accountant and administrator in Indiana and Colorado. She is passionate about the arts, animal welfare and environmental conservation.
steven stewart
Hoosier National Forest Program Director
Steven Stewart is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington. He has worked for many years in the non-profit sector and the field of Preservation. He is a strong public forest advocate and has spent his whole life in the forest learning its ways.
spencer valentine
Forests for Indy campaign director
Spencer Valentine brings more than 25 years of public service experience from government, nonprofits and consulting careers. He served as Co-Director of the Indiana Election Division and has worked on numerous political campaigns. He is dedicated to sustainable communities that value our natural infrastructure.
CONSULTING STAFF
Leslie Bishop, Ph.D.
Scientist
Jerome Delbridge
Urban Forest Preservation Project Director