Shelby Roback

Director of Naturalist Training, Naturalist

B.A. Environmental Studies, University of Michigan
B.A. Studio Art, University of Michigan
M.S. Environmental Education and Interpretation, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

I started at Wolf Ridge in 2021 as a Wilderness Trip Leader, then became the Program Coordinator before stepping into my current role as the Director of Naturalist Training. I oversee all aspects of the Graduate Naturalist Training Program from recruitment and admissions to advising and teaching graduate level courses. I find it incredibly fulfilling to be a part of the educational journey of the next generation of naturalists and help them draw on their unique strengths to become better members of both our human and nonhuman communities. With each new cohort of student naturalists I become more hopeful that we are headed towards a future that is kind, compassionate, and sustaining for all living things on our planet.

In my professional life I have focused on helping students build strong learning communities, connecting with nature, and exploring the intersections of social and environmental justice. In my spare time I am an avid forager and a practicing artist. I enjoy working in my garden, knitting in front of a wood stove, and tromping through the woods with friends. My secret power is that I can find a Mary Oliver poem to fit any occasion.