Who We Are
Staff of the Southern Plains Land Trust

Nicole Rosmarino, Ph.D. helped found the Southern Plains Land Trust and is currently its Executive Director. She resides in Bent County, CO. Nicole received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in May 2002. Her Ph.D. is in policy science/political science, and her academic focus was on biodiversity preservation. She has been actively involved in efforts to protect prairie wildlife since 1994 and treasures all native prairie species, both plant and animal.
Contact Nicole by phone: (720) 841-1757 or email: nicole@southernplains.org.

Contact Jay by phone: (720) 301-3843 or email: jay@southernplains.org.

Contact Susan by phone: (720) 692-8936 or email: susan@southernplains.org.
SPLT is governed by an all-volunteer, hard-working board of directors.


left to right: Misty Morehead, Tracy Kessner, Ortrun Neidig, and Taylor Jones on Heartland Ranch


Taylor Jones, SPLT’s Vice President, has been fascinated by animals great and small her whole life, from a childhood spent watching ants to a Master’s thesis on the Andean bear. She received an M. Sc. in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010, where she was a member of the Carnivore Coexistence Lab. Taylor led WildEarth Guardians’ “Protecting the Prairie Dog Empire” priority campaign for a decade. She is currently a Master’s student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, focusing on sustainable food systems. She is committed to social, racial, and environmental justice as inextricably interconnected movements.


Shannon Ryon is a SPLT Board Member. Shannon has 15 years of experience in real estate and title closings and has a strong background in organizing philanthropic events. She is a Colorado native and grew up on an organic farm and apple orchard in Golden, CO. Shannon enjoys traveling, history, skiing, and antique collecting. Shannon was first introduced to The Southern Plains Land Trust through fellow board member Ramona Gaylord and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Souther Plains Land Trust for several years.

Lexi Schaefer is a SPLT Board Member. Lexi is a second-generation Colorado Native who grew up in Longmont, hiking the mountains, and developing a deep affinity for all Colorado wildlife. She graduated from University of Colorado in Boulder a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and promptly developed a sales career in the wine industry where she focused on sustainable and organic wines for 17 years. Lexi discovered SPLT while working for Fetzer Vineyards where she was immediately drawn to SPLT’s mission and ambitious goals. She supports SPLT fundraisers with her enthusiasm and passion for the cause.

CONTACT US
Southern Plains Land Trust
P.O. Box 1016
Lamar, CO 81052
720-841-1757
A special thanks to the SPLT photographers!