As Director of Conservation Programming, Erin Shibley oversees VWL’s conservation partnerships, community science program and landowner engagement, along with overseeing general program operations. Shibley has a background as a conservation ecologist who leads applied research focused on the ecology and conservation of biodiversity across agricultural landscapes. She oversees VWL’s field-based studies that integrate ecological research and community engagement with the management of working lands to inform approaches for conserving Virginia’s native biodiversity. Her work is grounded in partnerships with landowners and livestock producers, participatory scientists, state and federal agencies and conservation organizations to translate ecological research into conservation action, supporting the co-development of best management practices across working lands. Shibley received her B.S. in Biology from James Madison University and her M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Frostburg State University. As a Virginia native, her passion for engaging local communities in ecological research led her to the Smithsonian where she is thrilled to develop strategies that empower communities to inform and advance on-the-ground conservation initiatives.