Meet our new volunteer coordinator
We're excited to introduce you to Tabitha Birdwell, our new volunteer coordinator. You'll have a chance to meet her this summer at some of our volunteer stewardship events. But until then, check out her background and experience to see why we're thrilled to welcome her to the team.
Tabitha Birdwell, FMR Volunteer Coordinator
Tabitha brings extensive experience in water stewardship, beginning in her home state of Louisiana at Ouachita Green, an environmental nonprofit where she co-coordinated volunteer events. After completing her undergraduate degree in Modern Languages, she pursued a Master's in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. She studied the policy and science behind some of the leading solutions to global freshwater, agricultural, environmental justice and ocean issues.
Most recently, she completed a California Sea Grant State Fellowship, applying her studies to the environmental work happening in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
At FMR, Tabitha will coordinate numerous group and public volunteer events FMR hosts throughout the year as part of our Stewardship & Education Team. (Find out more about FMR volunteer opportunities.)
Tabitha says she's "excited about this ability to work directly with the public and inspire others to steward nature." She is also passionate about supporting collaborative partnerships to strengthen our stewardship of the river.
When Tabitha's not pulling garlic mustard or hauling buckthorn with volunteers at FMR, she enjoys exploring her new home in Minnesota, re-reading her favorite books and baking for friends. Coming from the southern end of the Mississippi River, Tabitha grew up in southwest Louisiana near Calcasieu Lake, surrounded by seven siblings. She spent summers looking for blackberries so they could make their staple summer treat — blackberry pie.