James River Association Staff

James Abbott

 Lower James Senior Environmental Educator
Contact:jabbott@thejamesriver.org

I’m James Abbott and growing up in the Tidewater of Virginia, the James River was an incredible natural backdrop to grow up with. Many of my first outdoor experiences and actives were in the marshes along its banks or on the trails in its western mountains. I left for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington were I earned a BS in Biology and Environmental Science becoming a researcher and conservation biologist. I went on to protect and study the habitats of southeastern river systems through the research of birds. This culminated in graduate school at UNC Wilmington studying the food webs of the upper Bladen River in Belize. All of these research projects taught me that science doesn’t elicit change without dedicated education. My MS in Environmental Science concentrated in education. I joined the JRA team in Williamsburg in 2017 and I work to conserve America’s Founding River by fostering an understand and care for the natural world in students across the Lower James Watershed. I’m a James Changer!

Jordan Bennett

Restoration Coordinator
Email: jbennett@thejamesriver.org

Hi, I’m Jordan Bennett, from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. My love for the outdoors grew in the Shenandoah River at a young age doing numerous outdoor adventure summer camps. My family and I often took trips to the Shenandoah National Park to go on hikes. In high school I got a job as a raft guide where my passion for the outdoors only continued to expand. I graduated from Bridgewater College with a degree in Environmental Science. I moved into the James River watershed when I took an internship with the James River Association in their Stewardship Program. I am thrilled to continue growing my passion and knowledge for the outdoors while working to restore and protect the James River. I’m a James Changer!

Mauren Campbell

Senior Environmental Educator
Email: mcampbell@thejamesriver.org

I grew up on Richmond’s southside, just a short walk away from the banks of the James River. As I grew up and became more independent, I began to use the James River as the backdrop for adventurous activities–running on trails, climbing at Manchester Wall and, eventually, floating and paddling on the river itself. After graduating from the University of Virginia, I returned to Richmond to begin my teaching career as an elementary school teacher. My goal as a teacher was to get outside as much as possible,in an attempt to help students love the natural spots right outside of their classroom, before asking them to advocate for it. In 2016, I left Richmond for a few years to pursue a Master’s Degree, earning an M.Ed with a concentration in Science and Environmental Education from Antioch University New England. I moved to Brooklyn, New York where I taught third grade at a Title 1 Public School for 3 years, and grew passionate about creating a more just and equitable public education system. My love for nature education, and a desire to be closer to family, pulled me back to Richmond. Now that I am back home, I have a greater perspective on my role in advocating for the river that I grew up loving. I’m so pleased to be able to share that love for the river with each and every student that experiences our education program. I’m a James Changer!

Lucy Deignan

Coastal Restoration Coordinator
Email: ldeignan@thejamesriver.org

My name is Lucy Deignan and I am the Coastal Restoration Coordinator for JRA. I grew up in Richmond, VA, with the James River as the center of much of my freetime. Some of my earliest memories are of going on walks with my Dad and our yellow lab along the trails of Pony Pasture, mostly in the middle of winter, with an obligatory hot chocolate break. Since then I have enjoyed kayaking and canoeing down the river, as well as discovering more trails, mountain biking and walking. My love for the outdoors began not only on the James but also on the Chesapeake Bay, where I’ve spent countless hours on the water with family and friends. This experience, both on the James and the Bay, not only deepened my appreciation for the water and the environment but also revealed the many ways in which we need to protect it. I took my passion to help our environment, to the University of Virginia where I studied Biology and Environmental Science, focusing on conservation. I am now thrilled to be in a position where I can work towards restoring the shorelines of coastal communities in the James Watershed, and make a meaningful impact on my community. I’m a James Changer!

Justin Doyle

Director of Community Conservation
Email: jdoyle@thejamesriver.org; Phone: (804) 572-4667

Hey there! My name is Justin Doyle and I’m the James River Association’s Community Conservation Manager. I pursued a career in conservation to protect precious natural resources like the James River and have been a James River Association staff member since 2013. I promote conservation and responsible stewardship of our natural resources and help communities realize the benefits of a healthy James River. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of Mary Washington in 2008, a Master of Urban & Regional Planning degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012, and completed the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute in 2016. My family and I reside in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, which overlooks the James River. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, traveling, hiking, bicycling, snow skiing, and exploring the James River by canoe, kayak, and stand up paddleboard. I’m a James Changer!

Tom Dunlap

James RIVERKEEPER™
Email: tdunlap@thejamesriver.org; Phone: 804.905.9724

Hey there, I’m Tom Dunlap and I joined the James River Association as the James RIVERKEEPER™ in 2022. While I came of age running through the woods and playing in creeks and streams in the mountains of Colorado, I have had the pleasure of spending over half my life in Virginia. During my second stint in the Old Dominion state, I received my bachelor’s in environmental studies and my master’s in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Before joining the JRA, I worked for six years in agricultural conservation on the lower Peninsula with the Colonial Soil & Water Conservation District. With the Colonial District, I assisted farm operators, landowners, and many conservation partners with the implementation of on-the-ground conservation work that helped reduce non-point-source pollution in the James and York River watersheds. In 2021 I concluded a multi-year regional project spanning nine localities in the Lower James River watershed focused on promoting precision farm management techniques to improve efficiency and reduce nutrient loading to the river. I am a huge fan of people enjoying the James River, and I hope to see you out there. I’m a James Changer!

Katie Ferrell

Lower James Education Manager
Contact: kferrell@thejamesriver.org; Phone: 757.703.0672

I’m Katie Ferrell, a Richmond, Virginia native, whose love for the great outdoors started from an early age. With a park ranger mother, I spent endless days exploring National Parks along the East Coast and frequently fished on the James River with my father. I noticed early on that the health of the James was important as I saw first-hand how the water quality and pollution that infected our water was damaging our local ecosystem. My dedication to conserving our environment, especially our water systems, lead me to a BA in Environment Studies from Ashford University and a MS in Natural Resource Management from the University of Denver. From researching sea turtles in North Carolina to spearheading environmental education programs in Florida, I became cognizant of the impact water qualities have on communities. I’m excited to return to my Virginia roots with the charge of educating our youth on the importance of protecting our watershed, the significance of clean water, and how they can revive the environment. I’m a James Changer!

Casey Johnson

Community Engagement/GIS Manager
Email: lcjohnson@thejamesriver.org; Phone: 804.788.8811, ext 151

Hi everyone! I am Casey Johnson, born and raised in Morris County, New Jersey. I had a late start with developing my love for the environment. This love did not develop until my senior year of high school when I took my first environmental science class. From then on, I knew I wanted to spend my life educating others about the importance of protecting the environment. I went to James Madison University for my undergraduate degree, where I majored in Integrated Science and Technology with a concentration in the environment. I then moved to Richmond to attend graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University. I immediately fell in love with Richmond and the James River. At VCU I received a graduate degree in Environmental Studies and a certification in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I have worked at environmental nonprofit organizations throughout undergraduate and graduate school, and I am very excited to continue with my passion for this work at JRA. I’m a James Changer!

Ashleigh Moody

Acting Vice President of Development
Contact: amoody@thejamesriver.org

The James River has always been a part of my life.  I grew up in the Tri-Cities, where my grandparents operated a fish market that was ultimately closed due to Kepone, the pesticide that contaminated the river in the 1970’s.  As a child, who loved trips to the James, this was my first exposure to the devastating consequences of an unprotected river.  As an adult, I enjoy canoeing, kayaking, camping, hiking, and spending time on the river with my foxhound, Daphne, who has come to love the river as well.

I have worked in development of more than 20 years in Central Virginia; serving as the Director of Development for Prevent Blindness Virginia (now Conexus), Salvation Army, Alzheimer’s Association, and most recently, Friends of Barnabas, an international Non-Governmental Organization providing health care programs and services in Honduras.  I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and spent a great deal of time on the river as a college student.  In 2008, I received a Certified Fund-Raising Executive designation (CFRE) and have served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Fund-Raising Executives and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

It is an honor to work with our amazing team at JRA, and our supporters, to protect our beloved river for future generations to cherish and enjoy as much as I do.   I’m a James Changer!

Shawn Ralston

VP of Programs
Email: sralston@thejamesriver.org; Phone: 804.788.8811, ext 103

I’m Shawn Ralston and I grew up in both the piedmont and coast of North Carolina. As a child, I lived on the banks of a lake that provided drinking water for our town, and from there became interested at a very young age with how my daily actions affected the water that my family depended on. During my childhood and into college, I was an avid swimmer who spent hours a day immersed in water. After graduating from UNC-Wilmington, I worked for the Department of Environmental Protection in Charlotte, NC conducting water quality monitoring on streams, lakes and rivers. From there, I returned to school and received my Master of Marine Affairs and Juris Doctor from the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams School of Law respectively. After spending 8 years in Wilmington, NC leading environmental programs and managing planning for New Hanover County, I relocated to Richmond. My hope is that my children are able to experience and interact with the James as so many others have for generations. I’m a James Changer!

Gail Richmond Robinson, CPA

VP of Finance & Operations
Email: grobinson@thejamesriver.org

Among my favorite childhood memories are those of going out on my  grandfather’s pontoon boat and fishing off the dock behind his Florida home. More recently, when travelling I always make it a priority to hop on a river or lake cruise when I arrive in a new city to orient myself to it and help me  understand how that city finds its center and its heart in the body of water it proudly calls its own. Like most people I am drawn to water and find tranquility by connecting with it. Before joining the James River Association in January 2020 I had no idea the James was the source of water for nearly 3 million Virginians. I moved to the Richmond area 30 years ago and have loved calling RVA home. I grew up in New York and Florida and graduated from Lafayette College with a BA in Economics and Business. After working at a “big eight” accounting firm I lead the accounting and HR functions at a small Virginia state authority, then served as Director of Finance & Administration at the Richmond Symphony for ten years, where I learned of the true passion with which nonprofits operate as they strive to do good work and better their communities. I am deeply concerned about the climate and recognize the great importance of our natural resources. I am thrilled to be a member of the JRA staff and do my part to help protect the health of our beautiful river. I’m a James changer!

Joey Shelton

Restoration Field Manager
Email: jshelton@thejamesriver.org

I was born in Richmond and grew up In Chesterfield County. I spent my weekends camping, fishing, and paddling the James River with Boy Scouts, and as a teen spent many summer days at Pony Pasture and Belle Isle. I graduated from Longwood University with a degree in History, and spent five years working for Virginia State Parks. During my time working for parks, I had the opportunity to work with many excellent volunteers on enhancing the health and quality of the James River. I am excited to be a part of the James River Association and continuing my career of working to better the environment and teaching others how to do the same. I’m a James Changer!

Nathan Thomson

Lead Policy Advocate
Email: nthomson@thejamesriver.org

I’m Nathan Thomson and I grew up in Short Pump, Henrico County. Throughout my childhood I attended Westview on the James Summer Camp in Goochland and I spent time on the Rappahannock River with my family. Following high school, I enrolled at Radford University in Southwest Virginia where my love for the outdoors bloomed. Through the Highlander community, I was introduced to fly fishing and hunting, and during the summers I had the opportunity to give back at Westview as a counselor. A turning point came for me when I had the opportunity to complete an AmeriCorps internship in the Salmon-Challis National Forest in breathtaking Lemhi County Idaho. This 6-month experience which featured trail work, salmon spawning surveys, historic restoration, and a plethora of other projects set me in motion toward a career in conservation.

After returning from Idaho I was fortunate enough to attend (and against all odds) graduate from the Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies at Appalachian State in Boone, NC. There, I I received an MA in Political Science with a focus on Environmental Policy. In addition to my initial Idaho experience, I completed additional internships with the Bureau of Land Management on the Iditarod National Historic Trail and with the Forest Service in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

Post academia, I lived briefly in Charlotte NC before returning to Richmond, where I have pursued Government Relations work with a local healthcare non-profit and communications and policy with a Washington DC based conservation organization. When I’m not advocating on behalf of the James River, I enjoy fishing for trout, bass, and catfish, hunting for all manner of game, cycling, and spending time with my fiancé Kirsten and our Australian Shepherd Maple. If I could vacation anywhere I would go to Patagonia, and if I had one final meal it would be pizza from 8 ½.  I’m a James Changer!

Ryan Walsh

Senior Coastal Restoration Manager
Email: rwalsh@thejamesriver.org; Phone: 757.703.0671

I’m Ryan Walsh and I grew up in Southern Pines, North Carolina. I’ve spent much of my life exploring the outdoors, and have long been passionate about vital riverine and marine habitats. I cultivated my enthusiasm by exploring barrier islands and salt marshes, becoming intimately familiar with the plants and animals that call them home. I went to school in Wilmington, North Carolina, earning a BS in Marine Biology from UNC Wilmington and an AAS in Marine Technology from Cape Fear Community College. Since coming to Virginia, I have simply fallen in love with the James River, and want to see it returned to a healthy natural state, and am thrilled about the Great Return of breeding Atlantic sturgeon. To this end, I work to conserve tidewater habitats by actively fighting sea level rise and protecting the tidal communities of the Lower James. I’m a James Changer.I’m a James Changer.