Dusty Perkins, Program Manager
(970) 589-1474, email
Primary Responsibilities: Planning, management, implementation, and coordination of all aspects of the NCPN I&M program. Protocol lead for big rivers, invasive exotic plants, and landbird monitoring.
Education and Experience: PhD, Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine; MS, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation, University of Massachusetts; BS, Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine.
Before coming to the NCPN in 2007, Dusty served as program manager for the Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network. Prior to joining the National Park Service, Dusty was a Wildlife Biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service in Naples, Florida.
Carolyn Livensperger, Vegetation Ecologist
(435) 425-3015, email
Primary Responsibilities: Protocol lead for upland vegetation and wadeable streams monitoring.
Education and Experience: MS, Ecology, Colorado State University
BS, Environmental Science, State University of New York–Plattsburgh
Carolyn has worked a variety of ecology related jobs throughout the western United States. Prior to joining NCPN in 2021, she was the ecologist for Capitol Reef National Park.
Aneth Wight, Cartographic Technician
(435) 719-2348, email
Primary Responsibilities: Obtaining, creating and managing spatial data for the network; creating maps and performing spatial analyses.
Education and Experience: BS, Geography and Earth Resources, Utah State University.
Aneth specializes in GIS, cartography, and GPS technology. She previously worked as the GIS Specialist for a small town in Colorado before finding her way back to Moab. She worked briefly for the Southeast Utah Group before joining the network.
Mary Anne Schrade, Administrative Assistant
(928) 556-7405, email
Primary Responsibilities: Providing administrative support to Northern Colorado Plateau Network and Southern Colorado Plateau Network, including travel, timekeeping, and purchasing.
Education and Experience: BA, Psychology, Northern Arizona University
Luke Gommermann, Biological Science Technician
(435) 719-2354, email
Primary Responsibilities: Managing field crews for monitoring of big rivers, invasive exotic plants, and wadeable streams (crew leader), and collecting data across network parks.
Education and Experience: MS, Soil and Water Science, University of Florida; BS, Geological Sciences, University of Florida
Before permanently joining NCPN in January 2017, Luke worked seasonally with the NPS as a biological science technician with NCPN and as a park ranger of environmental education at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Sarah Karinen, Biological Science Technician
(435) 719-2342, email
Primary Responsibilities: Managing the uplands monitoring crew (crew lead), and collecting vegetation data across network parks.
Education: BS, Environmental Biology/Plant Biology, Michigan State University
Sarah has been counting, measuring, and identifying plants for the network since 2011. Prior to that, she spent a few years working in the West on various projects for universities and the US Forest Service. For the last decade, she has been a field botanist and currently works at her dream job, teaching and leading our amazing field crew.
Amy Washuta, Biological Science Technician
(435) 719-2353, email
Primary Responsibilities: Collecting data and assisting crew leaders for monitoring of uplands, big rivers, invasive exotic plants, and wadeable streams across network parks.
Education and Experience: MS, Interdisciplinary Ecology, University of Florida; BS, Geological Sciences, University of Florida
Amy has a hybrid background of science and education. She has taught high school biology and worked for the National Park Service as a park ranger in environmental education.
Carolyn Hackbarth, Hydrologic Technician
(435) 719-2344, email
Primary Responsibilities: Collecting and summarizing hydrologic data associated with water quality and wadeable streams monitoring.
Education and Experience: BS, Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado
Before joining the NCPN team in 2012, Carolyn worked as a biological science technician for the aquatic resources program at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Eliot Rendleman, Writer-Editor
Primary Responsibilities: Writing, editing, and general developing of science communication products for six I&M networks. Managing natural resource publications, digital content, and visual media aligned with NPS standards.
Education and Experience: PhD, Rhetoric and English Composition, University of Nevada, Reno; MA, Writing, University of Nevada, Reno; BA, Philosophy, University of Michigan.
Before joining the NCPN team in 2024, Eliot worked as a freelance content developer for technical writing and social media. Prior to that, he was professor of professional and technical writing in the English department at Columbus State University, Georgia, USA.
Joe R. Brehm, Data Manager
Primary Responsibilities: Data management, quality control, IT support, and contributing to reports.
Education and Experience: MS, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno; BS, Ecology and Conservation, University of St Andrews
Before joining the NCPN team in 2024, Joe worked as a software developer and data manager for New Mexico State University and the Jornada Experimental Range's Landscape Data Commons. Before that, Joe's field background is in vegetation monitoring and trail construction in the northern Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Illinois prairies for the USGS, Great Basin Institute, and other non-profits.
Last updated: April 2, 2025