Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee

A dozen members of the Preserve Committee sit on the steps on the tip of Picnic Point for a meeting.
The Preserve Committee conducts a meeting on Picnic Point. Photo by Bryn Scriver.

The Preserve Committee is an advisory board made up of faculty, staff, and student members, which advises UW-Madison administration and staff on policies for stewardship and use of the Preserve.

The charge of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee is “to ensure the integrity of these cherished campus resources through the provision of necessary and appropriate oversight, policies, guidelines, stewardship and management.”

Preserve Committee meetings are open to the public. For meeting dates, times, and locations, please check the events calendar.

Preserve Committee Documents

Academic staff and faculty are appointed for a three-year term, with a maximum of two terms. Student members are appointed by the Associated Students of Madison for annual terms.

2024-2025 Preserve Committee Members

Voting members

Robert Beattie, academic staff/CHAIR (2nd term ends July 2025)
Ellen Damschen, faculty (1st term ends July 2027)
Kayla Dembiec student (annual ASM appointment)
Joseph Fernandez, student (annual ASM appointment)
Braydon Fry, student (annual ASM appointment)
Claudia Guzmán, academic staff (1st term ends July 2025)
Anna Pidgeon, faculty (2nd term ends July 2025)
Elmo Rawling, faculty (1st term ends July 2025)
Kyle Webert, academic staff (1st term ends July 2025)

Non-voting ex officio or consultants

Josh Goldman, ex officio, Interim Director UW Arboretum
Brad Herrick, ex officio, Director Lakeshore Nature Preserve
Kelly Ignatoski, ex officio, Director University Apartments
Rhonda James, consultant, Senior Landscape Architect, Campus Planning
Missy Nergard, ex officio, Director Office of Sustainability
Anne Pearce, ex officio, board member Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Past Preserve Committee Members