Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, California, Mikie Mcdonnell grew up in the ranching community. Her college education led her to Idaho where she studied biology, with an ecology emphasis, from Boise State University. Following her undergraduate education, Mikie received her Masters degree in natural resources from the University of Idaho. She has a strong background in conservation, with previous monitoring and conservation jobs that allowed her to explore most of Idaho, including a few summers managing a sheep herd in Montana to eradicate noxious weeds. She comes to the Rangeland Trust from the Wood River Land Trust in Idaho, where she developed a Pollinator Meadow legacy project during her AmeriCorps service. Throughout her diverse experiences and positions, the importance of outreach has continued to resonate with her, and her goal to facilitate outreach opportunities in conservation has allowed her to find a perfect fit as the Rangeland Trust’s Stewardship Specialist.