MEET OUR STAFF

Kathleen Harrigan

Executive Director

Originally from Long Island, Kathleen chose to make the City of Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock River basin home after falling in love with the transition from the falls to the tidal river at Fredericksburg. Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Mary Washington, and completed additional graduate level course work in environmental science and engineering at Virginia Tech and in organizational development at Pepperdine University. Kathleen serves as the Executive Director of Friends of the Rappahannock and manages our fund development and community partnerships.

Daria Christian

Assistant Director/Education Director

Daria Blom Christian is the Assistant Director and Education Director for Friends of the Rappahannock. She manages the education department and oversees grant programs. Daria is a leader in Virginia watershed and water education, completing the top tier of requirements set by the Virginia Environmental Education Leadership Program. She has a Bachelor degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Environmental Studies and a Master degree in Education from the University of Mary Washington. Daria is passionate about environmental education, as it is the base for everything we do at FOR! Daria enjoys chasing around her two small boys and doing anything outdoors!

Woodie Walker

Community Conservationist

Woodie Walker is our Community Conservationist, leading membership recruitment efforts, outreach events, and in general working with volunteers and interns to meet FOR’s goals. Woodie has worked for local and state governments on clean air & clean water issues, and served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in West Virginia from 2011 to 2013. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and an avid angler. He has worked for FOR since 2013, when he fell in love with the ecology and history of the Rappahannock River.

Bryan Hofmann

Programs Manager

Bryan joined FOR as our Programs Manager in 2013 and has grown to love the Rappahannock River and all it has to offer. Bryan completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from Xavier University, and he received his Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Miami University’s Institute of Environmental Science with a focus on environmental economics and watershed management. Bryan leads the restoration program focusing on stream restoration, stormwater management, oyster restoration, and other water quality projects and can also be found at the state house in Richmond advocating for strong protections for Virginia’s water resources.

Lowery Becker

Education Coordinator

Lowery Becker is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor degree in Environmental Sciences and Conservation and of the University of Mary Washington with a Masters of Education. As the Education Coordinator, Lowery is able to combine her love for the Rappahannock River with her love for teaching others. Lowery was inspired to work for the river at a young age and believes working with the next generation is our key to a healthier river. Lowery lives on a tidal tributary of the Rappahannock and enjoys fishing, tennis and spending time with her family.

Adam Lynch

Restoration Coordinator

Adam Lynch serves as our restoration coordinator and an environmental educator. Adam is a native of the Rappahannock watershed and a graduate of Courtland High School in Spotsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University, where he spent his senior year developing a restoration plan for a degraded stream on campus. Adam has a diverse professional background that includes four years of environmental consulting for the military at Marstel-Day as well as stints at Fort A.P. Hill, Lake Anna State Park, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Nancy Stalik

Membership Coordinator

Nancy Stalik grew up on the coast of eastern Connecticut. She received a B.S. in MIS at the University of Connecticut, where she studied salt marshes and estuaries. She has lived in Virginia with her husband and three children since 1990. After homeschooling her children during their elementary years, she obtained her Master of Education at the University of Mary Washington. Nancy is gratified to witness the salt water studies of her youth flowing with the river waters studies of her current work with Friends of the Rappahannock.

Meredith Palumbo

Field Trips Coordinator

Meredith Palumbo graduated from the University of Mary Washington in May 2017, where she studied biology and environmental sustainability. She volunteered at Friends of the Rappahannock for three years prior to earning her position as field trip coordinator for FOR. As field trip coordinator, she believes that educating students about river safety, water quality, and the Rappahannock ecosystem will influence young minds to help protect the Rappahannock River.

Richard Moncure Jr

Tidal River Steward

Richard is a graduate of Woodberry Forest School and Hampden-Sydney College. FOR welcomed Richard to the position of Tidal Rappahannock River Steward in January 2011. Richard’s role as Tidal River Steward will expand FOR’s mission downstream to the Chesapeake Bay. He is currently involved in community education and advocacy relating to the Taylorsville Basin Fracking issue, and he is leading a number of restoration projects relating to living shorelines and oyster reefs. Richard is based out of FOR’s Tidal Rappahannock Office located at June Parker Marina in Tappahannock, Virginia.