Help Hire the Next Natural Areas Director!#

We are reaching out for your help in attending a Natural Areas Stakeholder Forum to help hire the new City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Director.  Thank you for your consideration and for your dedication to helping natural areas. You will represent a voice in the process-- the ultimate decision-makers are the City’s Community Services Director and the Deputy City Manager.   

The job description brochure is below.

Read the Recruitment Brochure

Candidate Biographies#

Kerri Rollins 

Kerri Rollins is currently the Interim North Front Range Regional Director and Director of Larimer County Extension Office for Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension. Prior to this, Kerri spent 18 years with the Larimer County Natural Resources Open Lands Program as an Open Lands Technician, Fund Development and Outreach Specialist, and Open Lands Manager. Kerri began her career with the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education as an Assistant Director in 1998 and was then an Outdoor Community Survey Contractor for Highlands Ranch Metro District. Kerri has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and a Master of Science in Recreation Resources from Colorado State University. 

Adam Schellhammer 

Since 2019, Adam Schellhammer has served as the Wai Ora Partnerships Manager in Climate Resiliency Delivery for the Auckland Council. Prior to that, Adam was a Biological Technician for Valley Forge National Park, a Stroud Preserve Assistant for the Natural Lands Trust, Operations Supervisor for Revel Resort, Natural Resource Manager for Friends of Princeton Open Space for Mountain Lakes Preserve, and a District Manager for the Monroe County Conservation District. Adam has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Millersville University, Graduate Certificates in Natural Resource Management and Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech, and a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management also from Virginia Tech. 

Zoë Shark 

Zoë has served the City of Fort Collins since 2002. While she is currently the Natural Areas Interim Director, she started with Fort Collins as an Air Quality Education Coordinator, moved up to the Natural Areas Education and Volunteer Coordinator, and then to the Natural Areas Public Engagement Manager. Zoë started her career as a Ranger for the U.S. Park Service for Rocky Mountain National Park and was then a Wilderness Leader for Deer Hill Summer Expeditions, a Teacher for Prescott Valley Charter Montessori School, an Environmental Educator for Roaring Fork Conservancy, and an Education Director for the Colorado State University Environmental Learning Center. Zoë has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from Prescott College and a Master of Science in Environmental Education. She has also completed coursework towards a Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication from Colorado State University. 

Luis Ramirez 

Luiz Ramirez most recently served as the Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Prior to that, Luis was a Land Manager and Plant Ecologist for The Crane Trust, a Post-Doctoral Associate for the Institute for Conservation Research at the San Diego Zoo Global, Director of the Rocky Mountain/Great Plains Program for the Denver Zoological Foundation, and Director of Conservation for Upper Mississippi Flyway for the National Audubon Society. Luis has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, a Master of Science in Range Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Grassland Ecology, Habitat and Grazing Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Candidate #5- Name and biography shared with interview panels as appropriate due to candidate's wishes.