Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is pleased to welcome Melinda Voss as its new education programs manager. She’ll be leading the growth of ORF’s environmental education programs including River Explorer, Mussels in the Classroom, and the summer Student Conservation Leaders program.
Prior to working with ORF, Voss worked in the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden education department as their senior manager where she was able to gain many years of experience in leadership and environmental education.
“We are thrilled to have Melinda on the ORF team. She will bring a tremendous level of environmental educational experience, enthusiasm, and professionalism to this role.
Over the last few years our education programs have expanded to new schools and new markets, and Melinda is the perfect person to lead these programs into the next stage of growth,” said ORF Executive Director Rich Cogen.
Voss has also led master’s courses with Miami University’s Earth Expeditions program taking her to in-situ conservation field sites all over the world including Kenya, Namibia and Baja Mexico.
“I am a Cincinnatian born and bred and some of my happiest moments have been spent in and around our wonderful Ohio River watershed. We are so fortunate to have the Ohio River to enjoy and nourish us. It is a dream come true to be able to work with Ohio River Foundation to protect this amazing resource and to help others connect with and work towards conserving nature in their own backyards and community,” said Voss.
Melinda and her family live on the west side of Cincinnati on their fourth-generation, low-impact, regenerative farm. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in the fields, woods, and streams with her two young children as well as gardening, and riding horses.