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Kathy Woughter, philanthropy assistant

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Kathy Woughter plays a major role in building support for the Adirondack Land Trust’s mission to forever conserve the forests, farmlands, waters and wild places that advance the quality of life of Adirondack communities and the region’s ecological integrity. She works to connect people to different aspects of conservation work, with a focus on young and diverse constituents.

Megan Zack (Photo provided)

Before moving to the Adirondacks this year, Woughter worked in higher education in western New York, most recently as vice president of student affairs at Alfred University. Woughter has won awards as an ally for diversity and cultural unity, and she is eager to continue this work in the North Country. Outside of work, she can be found hiking, cycling, kayaking and snowshoeing, or feeding her addiction to books. She and her husband, Bob, brought their two sons to the Adirondacks when they were growing up, and one is now an assistant forest ranger with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Bob is the principal of Keene Central School.

“After traveling to the Adirondacks to recreate several times a year since our 20s, my partner and I decided it was time to move to the place we love and contribute as residents,” Woughter said. “My goal was to transition from a rewarding career in higher education to an environmental nonprofit, and I was thrilled to connect with the collaborative, welcoming professionals at the Adirondack Land Trust. The least I can do after so many years of enjoying Adirondack lands and waters is to help conserve and protect them through philanthropy work at ALT.”

Woughter can be reached at kathy.woughter@adirondacklandtrust.org.

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Megan Zack, land protection manager

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Megan leads the Adirondack Land Trust’s efforts to work with communities, landowners and partners to protect critical lands and waters. She was born and raised in northeast Pennsylvania and spent summers in the Adirondacks with her parents and two sisters on Balfour Lake in Minerva, near where her mother grew up. Zack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental studies from George Washington University and a Master of Science degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University. After working for The Conservation Fund in Pennsylvania for several years, she is excited to join the Adirondack Land Trust and set down roots where her mother’s family has lived for over 150 years. Outside of work, she can be found at music festivals and concerts, and finding new trails with her dog, Ziggy.

Zack said she always knew she wanted a career in public service and is grateful she found her professional path as a conservationist. She’s thrilled to be working to conserve special places in the Adirondacks. She takes daily inspiration from these lines of a poem by Rumi: “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”

Zack can be reached at megan.zack@adirondacklandtrust.org.

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ALT

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These two new positions were made possible by donations from people who support the conservation efforts of the Adirondack Land Trust.

Founded in 1984, the mission of the Adirondack Land Trust is to forever conserve the forests, farmlands, waters and wild places that advance the quality of life of our communities and the ecological integrity of the Adirondacks. The land trust has protected 26,628 acres to date.

To learn more, visit adirondacklandtrust.org or contact info@adirondacklandtrust.org or 518-576-2400.