Q: Where did you grow up?
Down a sweet rural road in the Mohawk Valley outside of Springfield.
Q: What is your favorite Willamette valley landscape?
Shaded creeks, with sun skimming through the trees. Tributaries of our mighty Willamette, where you can walk, paddle, climb downstream for a full August afternoon.
Q: Favorite tree?
Is there anything better than an Oregon white oak? My favorite tree is one in the pasture where I grew up. My mom says it is the best-looking oak tree out there, and she will get defensive if you suggest another oak rivals it. More summer days than I can count were spent on a tire swing under this massive, living, beast.
Q: Do you have a favorite place that Greenbelt protects?
I have a special place in my heart for Fitton Green. From the top of the hill, as I look out over the Valley, I can just imagine what our founders were envisioning for Greenbelt when they, too, sat atop that same hill decades ago, dreaming of what would be.
Q: Who is your favorite author?
Nope, too hard to answer. Here’s a short-list for fiction: Don Delillo, Haruki Murakami, Ralph Ellison, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Toni Morrison
Q: What does your ideal weekend look like?
My ideal weekend would be putting on headphones with a great playlist and taking my dog Milo out for a few hours to stroll through campus, out to Bald Hill and back. The route out Campus Way has a lot of nostalgia for me, as I walked that countless times 20 years ago in college.
Q: How do you like your coffee?
Black coffee only, please.
Q: Who inspires you?
Those who speak truth, lead with humility, and wear their passion on their sleeve.
Q: What’s your superpower?
I can parallel park like nobody else.
Q: What has changed at Greenbelt since you started in 2009?
A lot, and also not that much. Our DNA of creativity and bold actions reflect the same culture that was embedded into the land trust 31 years ago. But, in the last 11 years we have taken huge strides forward in professionalizing the organization, tripled our acres protected and doubled the size of the staff. When I first started we had a few shovels and hand loppers for controlling invasive plants – cut to today, and we have a team stewarding thousands of acres with tractors, seed drills, and more.
Q: Where do you want to lead Greenbelt Land Trust?
I want to continue the momentum. Greenbelt is poised to increase our trajectory of growth in calculated steps over the coming 3-5 years. In 10 years I want us to have an extensive financial base that meets our operations, land protection, and stewardship needs in the long-term, and I see us protecting thousands of more acres to create large-scale conservation corridors, from the floodplain to the foothills. I envision Greenbelt undergoing a transformational journey of equity with humility and openness. And I envision Greenbelt standing tall as a leading voice for conservation in the state, developing creative opportunities for policy, funding, and partnership across Oregon.
This is the trajectory we are on. It’s my, and our, job to keep us on track.
Q: What will Greenbelt Land Trust look like in 2051?
We will be bold. We will be fearless. We will be leaders. In 30 years we will be embedded into the lives of every person that lives in the Willamette Valley. We will be a trusted ally and a torchbearer for healthy communities for all.
Jessica McDonald, Executive Director
Thank you for being long time friends, supporters and collaborative partners of Greenbelt Land Trust!
The Board and Staff of Greenbelt Land Trust are delighted to announce Jessica McDonald as their new Executive Director. Five months ago we launched a nationwide search that attracted a large number of applicants, given Greenbelt’s excellent and well-earned reputation regionally and nationally. A rigorous selection and interview process culminated in the Board of Directors’ unanimous decision to select McDonald to lead the organization. Jessica succeeds Michael Pope, whose leadership guided the organization for the last 10 years.
Jessica has been steeped in land trust leadership for 11 years, and brings a deep knowledge of conservation, fundraising, and coalition-building to the organization. She joined the staff of Greenbelt Land Trust in 2009 as Development Director, building the organization’s fundraising and outreach programs. In 2016 Jessica transitioned into the role of Associate Director, where she led the creation of the organization’s business and strategic plans, directed a capital campaign, and led a national accreditation effort. Under Jessica’s guidance Greenbelt has tripled its operational assets and annual income and expanded its regional reach.
To her new role as executive director Jessica brings a deep commitment to the land trust’s mission, and long-standing relationships with our donors and partners. She helped launch the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts in 2011, and continues to serve in leadership capacities to move statewide conservation policies forward. She has established a national reputation as a strategic leader and respectful collaborator. In addition to her leadership in conservation, Jessica has demonstrated inspiring community leadership, investing in regional movements to identify creative solutions for affordable housing, homelessness, and voter education.
Raised in the Willamette Valley, Jessica’s sense of place and commitment to the legacy of our region and the health of our communities is clear. “I came to understand early on the awesome responsibility we all share to be stewards of these lands and rivers in our backyard. As we look to the future of this region, the path ahead of us is daunting. We face a climate in crisis, increasing demands on our natural resources, and an economy on shaky ground. However, I am confident that we will rise to the challenge and move our conservation vision forward at this critical moment. Together with a talented staff and with our inspiring donors, partners and volunteer leadership, we are poised to grow our legacy for generations to come. I am honored to take the helm from my friend Michael Pope, and excited for the next chapter of Greenbelt Land Trust.”
Cheers to you, our supporters and partners – and here’s to the legacy we are creating together!
Curtis Rose, Board President
