Emerging Conservation Professionals Network

We support those entering or thinking about entering the field of conservation. We assist with the transition from pre-program candidacy to graduate school and through to early career stages by producing targeted programming and resources, fostering a professional community through local networks and online platforms, and connecting members with educational and professional development opportunities.

What We Do

Annual Meeting Programming

We host events at AIC's Annual Meeting that address the interests of our membership and strengthen our relationship with established professionals. Past events have included networking sessions, lightning round presentations, portfolio sessions, panel discussions, happy hours, and informational meetings. We also frequently contribute to the Poster Session, presenting on the network activities or key topics of interest to emerging professionals.

Below are some ways to connect at the annual meeting.

  • Bookmark Events on Meeting Schedule: Be sure not to miss our Annual Meeting programming! Search for "ECPN" on Sched to find all of our events.
  • Wear our Ribbon: Snag a purple our ribbon at registration. This is an easy way to spot fellow emerging conservation professionals at the conference and forge new connections!
  • Download our Tips Sheet: Learn how to prepare for and make the most of your conference experience.

Create Resources and Connections

We have grown over the past decade to become a key part of AIC. Leaders who volunteer stay engaged with the organization, often choosing to engage with or chair committees and networks. Many of our volunteers have run for an elected role with a specialty group and the AIC Board. Voices of emerging professionals are heard, thanks to this network. 

While the shape of our activities change over time, one consistent thread is how they provide resources for other professionals who are beginning their careers. These resources are now collected in a dedicated area of this site, within Resources for Conservation Professionals

Thanks to the many, many volunteers who created and collaborated on these resources!

Who We Are

We were established as a Network within AIC in 2008 to provide support and resources for AIC members in the early stages of their professional career. We first hosted informal events at the AIC Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA, in 2009, and introduced specialized programming beginning in 2011 at the AIC Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. We continued to expand our resources for members by establishing a Liaison Program and Webinar Program in 2012, and in 2015 launched a page on the AIC Wiki "Resources for Emerging Conservation Professionals."

More than 60 people volunteer with the network each year, many serving in our liaison program. Several officers have gone on to serve as specialty group chairs and AIC board members. Volunteering is a great way to make new connections and develop your personal network.

Find our past officers listed below. You may see some familiar names!

We advocate on behalf of and support the inclusion of emerging professionals within the organization by:

  • Recommending and/or providing educational and professional development opportunities.
  • Promoting collaboration and dialogue with other AIC groups and with professionals in allied fields.
  • Promoting Professional Membership as important part of maintaining professional standing within the field.
  • Engaging in initiatives and activities to promote inclusivity, equity, and diversity within the field.
  • Promoting the importance of service to the profession and encourage members to engage in outreach and advocacy activities.
  • Fostering communication between emerging and experienced conservation professionals.
  • Enhancing dialogue between the organization and the graduate-level conservation training programs.

How We're Organized

We have a core group of officers, a larger group of volunteers working within various committees, and a network of liaisons that span the country or engage internally with other AIC groups.

Our Leadership

Most volunteers serve in roles with 1- or 2-year terms, but some roles advance into another, such as vice chair to chair, and volunteers may also express interest in finding a new role when their term ends. 

Several rows of faces appear on a Zoom screen during an officer meeting

2025-2026

  • Chair: Ashley L. Stanford
  • Vice Chair: Caroline Longo
  • Communications: Amelia J. Hammond and Amy Trompeter
  • Outreach: Caitlin Green and Stepahnie Gold
  • Education & Training: Ella Andrews and Madeline Ballou
  • Board Liaison: Beth Edelstein
  • Staff Liaison: Nick Farrell

2024-2025

  • Chair: Kaela Nurmi
  • Vice Chair: Ashley L. Stanford
  • Communications: Ka Yee "Christy" Ching
  • Outreach: Susan Enterline
  • Education & Training: Hannah Stahulak

2023-2024

  • Chair: Stephanie Guidera
  • Vice Chair: Kaela Nurmi
  • Communications: Kacey Green and Ka Yee "Christy" Ching
  • Outreach: Josephine Ren and Susan Enterline
  • Education & Training: Caroline Shaver and Hannah Stahulak

2022-2023

  • Chair: Michaela Paulson
  • Vice Chair: Stephanie Guidera
  • Communications: Kacey Green 
  • Outreach: Kaela Nurmi and Josephine Ren
  • Education & Training: Kaeley Ferguson and Caroline Shaver

2021-2022

  • Chair: Jessica Betz Abel
  • Vice Chair: Michaela Paulson
  • Professional Education & Training: Kaeley Ferguson and Laura Bergemann
  • Outreach: Ashley L. Stanford and Kaela Nurmi
  • Communications: Héctor J. Berdecía Hernández and Stephanie Guidera
  • Digital Platforms: Marie Desrochers and Meris Westberg

2020-21 Officers


  • Chair: Caitlin Richeson 
  • Vice Chair: Jessica Betz Abel
  • Professional Education & Training: Keara Teeter and Annabelle Camp
  • Outreach: Michaela Paulson and Ashley L. Stanford 
  • Communications: Héctor J. Berdecía Hernández and Leila Sabouni
  • Digital Platforms: Natalya Swanson and Marie Desrochers

2019-20 Officers


  • Chair: Eve Mayberger 
  • Vice Chair: Caitlin Richeson 
  • Professional Education & Training: Keara Teeter and Annabelle Camp
  • Outreach: Marci Jefcoat Burton and Michaela Paulson
  • Communications: Candace Kang and Jessica Betz Abel
  • Digital Platforms: Natalya Swanson and Emma Hartman

2018-19 Officers

  • Chair: Kari Rayner  
  • Vice Chair: Eve Mayberger 
  • Professional Education & Training: Kat Fanning and Quinn Morgan Ferris 
  • Webinar Coordinator: Jen Munch
  • Outreach: Caitlin Richeson and Marci Jefcoat Burton 
  • Communications: Awyn Rileybird and Candace Kang 

2017-18 Officers


  • Chair: Rebecca Gridley

  • Vice Chair: Kari Rayner

  • Professional Education & Training: Emma Schmitt and Kat Fanning

  • Webinar Coordinator: Jen Munch

  • Outreach:  Eve Mayberger and Caitlin Richeson

  • Communications: Alyssa Rina and Awyn Rileybird

2016-17 Officers

  • Chair: Michelle Sullivan

  • Vice Chair: Rebecca Gridley

  • Professional Education & Training: Jessica Walthew and Emma Schmitt

  • Webinar Coordinator: Kari Rayner

  • Outreach: Kimi Taira and Eve Mayberger

  • Communications: Alexa Beller and Alyssa Rina



2015-16 Officers

  • Chair: Fran Ritchie

  • Vice Chair: Michelle Sullivan

  • Professional Education & Training: Jessica Walthew

  • Webinar Coordinator: Elyse Driscoll

  • Outreach: Anne Schaffer and Kimi Taira

  • Communications: Alexa Beller and Rebecca Gridley
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2014-15 Officers

  • Chair: Megan Salazar-Walsh

  • Vice Chair: Heather Brown

  • Professional Education & Training: Michelle Sullivan

  • Webinar Coordinator: Fran Ritchie

  • Outreach: Amy Hughes and Anne Schaffer

  • Communications: Laura Neufeld and Ayesha Fuentes


2013-14 Officers

  • Chair: Eliza Spaulding

  • Vice Chair: Megan Salazar-Walsh

  • Professional Education & Training: Michelle Sullivan and Ayesha Fuentes

  • Webinar Coordinator: Anisha Gupta

  • Outreach: Saira Haqqi and Carrie McNeal

  • Communications: Kendall Trotter and Fran Ritchie


2012-13 Officers

  • Chair: Molly Gleeson

  • Vice Chair: Eliza Spaulding

  • Professional Education & Training: Caroline Roberts and Gwen Manthey

  • Outreach: Anisha Gupta and Megan Salazar-Walsh

  • Communications: Angela Curmi
 


2011-12 Officers

  • Chair: Molly Gleeson

  • Vice Chair: Eliza Spaulding

  • Professional Education & Training: Caroline Roberts and Abby Aldrich

  • Outreach: Anisha Gupta and Megan Salazar-Walsh



2010-11 Officers

  • Chair: Rose Daly

  • Professional Education & Training: Amber Kerr and Caroline Roberts

  • Outreach: Heather Brown

  • Communications: Amy Brost
 


2009-10 Officers

  • Co-Chairs: Rachel Penniman and Rose Daly

  • Professional Education & Training: Amber Kerr

  • Outreach: Jason Church

  • Communications: Katie Mullen
 


2008-09 Officers

  • Co-Chairs: Laura Brill and Rachel Penniman

  • Professional Education & Training: Amber Kerr

  • Outreach: Jason Church

  • Communications: Katie Mullen

Our Liaisons

Our liaisons cultivate local networks of emerging conservation professionals and foster a sense of community, organizing local events such as lab tours, portfolio days, or happy hours. We have three liaison groups: regional liaisons, graduate program liaisons, and group liaisons. Our outreach officers manage the liaison program. If you are interested in a vacant position, please let them know. We encourage liaisons to have AIC membership, but it is not required.

Region / Metro Area Liaison(s) Email Address
Arizona (Tucson) Aurora Levy Tucson.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
California (Los Angeles) Sarah Abrahamsson and Naomi Rosenkranz LA.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
California (San Francisco) Magdalena Wantschik and Katya Madrid SanFrancisco.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Colorado (Denver) Mya Vander Pol Denver.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Connecticut (Hartford) Olivia Fiore Hartford.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com 
Florida (Miami) Ella Andrews and Nicola Macdonald Miami.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Florida (Orlando) (vacant) Orlando.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Georgia (Atlanta) Anna Connolly and Ella Andrews Atlanta.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Illinois (Chicago) Ruthie Rolfsmeyer and Elena Best Chicago.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Indiana (Indianapolis) (vacant) Indianapolis.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Louisiana (Natchitoches) (vacant) Natchitoches.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com 
Maryland (Baltimore) (vacant) Baltimore.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Massachusetts (Boston) Kay Horak Boston.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Michigan (Ann Arbor) (vacant) AnnArbor.MI.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Minnesota (Twin Cities) Victoria Feliz and Sydney Goethel TwinCities.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Missouri (Kansas City) (vacant) KansasCity.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Missouri (Saint Louis) (vacant) StLouis.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Montana (Missoula) Megan Escene  missoula.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
New Hampshire (Hanover) Sarah Fields   Hanover.NH.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
New Jersey (Princeton) (vacant) Princeton.ecpn.Liaison@gmail.com
New York (New York City) Minyoung Kim and Miriam-Helene Rudd NYC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
New York (Upstate) (vacant) Upstate.NY.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Ohio (Cleveland) Zach Fox and Eva Rando Cleveland.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Oklahoma (Tulsa) Elly Stewart Davis tulsa.ok.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Oregon (Portland) (vacant) Portland.OR.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) (vacant) Philadelphia.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Puerto Rico Paola Valentin Irizarry PuertoRico.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Rhode Island (Providence) (vacant) Providence.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
South Carolina (Columbia) (vacant) Columbia.SC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
South Dakota (Rapid City) Hope Hertzler Rapidcity.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Tennessee (Nashville) (vacant) Nashville.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Texas (Austin) Margaret Canfield Austin.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Texas (Dallas) (vacant) Dallas.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Texas (Houston) (vacant) Houston.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Virginia (Richmond) Tatianna Shannon Richmond.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Virginia (Williamsburg) Benjamin Wood  Williamsburg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Washington (Seattle) (vacant) Seattle.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com

Washington DC

Katherine Miromonti  DC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com

Group Liaison Email Address
Archaeological Heritage Network (AHN) (vacant) adg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Architecture Specialty Group (ASG) (vacant) asg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Book & Paper Group (BPG) (vacant) bpg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Connecting to Collections Care (C2CC) Sydney Collins C2CC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Conservators in Private Practice (CIPP) Emma Ross cipp.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Contemporary Art Network (CAN!) Daisy Diamond and Caroline Longo CAN.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Education & Training Committee (ETC) (vacant) ETC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Electronic Media Group (EMG) (vacant) emg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Emergency Committee (EC) (vacant) EC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Equity & Inclusion Committee (EIC) (vacant) N/A
Health & Safety Committee (HSC) (vacant) HSC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Objects Specialty Group (OSG) Alyssa Rina osg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Paintings Specialty Group (PSG) Laura Richter Le psg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Photographic Materials Group (PMG) Emily Mercer pmg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Preventive Care Network (PCN) (vacant) CCN.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Research & Technical Studies (RATS) Leah Humenuck rats.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Sustainability Committee (SC) Sarah Beach SC.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Textiles Specialty Group (TSG) Annalise Gall and Livi Andreini tsg.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com
Wooden Artifacts Group (WAG) Claire Martin wag.ecpn.liaison@gmail.com

Emerging conservation professionals attending our Happy Hour at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT

Our Online Community

Our online community is open to students and those in the first years of their career, as well as anyone considering a career in conservation.

  • Dear colleagues, As part of my Master's thesis in conservation-restoration in Brussels (Belgium), I am conducting research on the impact of floods on archaeological ceramics and the responses implemented to mitigate their effects. I have prepared ...

  • Hello all! The BPG Publications Committee is seeking a new volunteer Paper Coordinator for the Book and Paper Group Wiki , with the duties of the position to be assumed after the AIC Annual Meeting in May 2026, following a shadowing period starting ...

  • Call for Papers: Icon Photographic Materials Group Lightning Talks 2025 Wednesday 10 th December 2025, 10 am - 1 pm GMT The Icon Photographic Material Group is bringing back the Lighting Talks to close the year. The format will be online, ...

  • Are you an emerging conservation professional located in (or near) Los Angeles? Anamaria Cuevas and I (your Los Angeles ECPN Co-liaisons) want to hear from YOU! We're conducting a survey to investigate how we can best serve and engage our LA ECPN community. ...

Volunteer with Us

Help create resources, plan events, and build connections among members. There are many ways to get involved—organize annual meeting sessions, develop webinars, or support networking and skill-building efforts. All of our group’s great work is powered by volunteers. Connect, contribute, and make a difference!

Volunteer