Header Image of Phyllis Island at Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge,

Introducing the Friends of the Ohio River Island National Wildlife Refuge Board:  Now we are nine!

This past Oct. 8th, we hosted a national event—Walk for the Wild 2023—to celebrate our country’s National Wildlife refuges. (Think globally, act locally). We partnered with the Pleasant County Parks and Recreation Board to host a 5K Run/Walk/Cycle/Paddle in St. Mary’s, West Virginia. This is the home of Middle Island—one of the only refuge islands that has easy public access. It was a modest success—we had 30-40 people participate in the activities. We learned a lot and hope to build on this success in the following years.   

As a new board, we are committed to connecting the various units of the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge to the local communities that surround them. This was our first go.

So, below meet the wonderful people who have stepped up to support our local Refuge, and who hope to connect people with the amazing National Wildlife Refuge in our own backyard.

Mark Krivchenia (President):  

Mark grew up in Marieta, Ohio. After graduating from Marieta High School, he left the area for 50 years; he returned when he and his wife Hilary retired. Mark’s vocation for the past twenty years has been working (volunteering) with land trusts, watershed groups, and volunteer ecological restoration efforts in Illinois and Indiana. When he came back to the area, he discovered the not-so-recently established Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge with ecosystems in need of much repair. So, he decided to get involved. The Refuge has an amazing, professional and support staff—both locally and nationally. He has gotten excited about supporting American Wildlife Refuges—the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge being the one right in our backyard.

Emily Grafton (Secretary):

Emily has spent years studying and educating people about the natural world. She worked for years in the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, where she published several interpretive fields guides (Babcock State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park). She currently heads the local West Virginia Master Naturalist’s program and has served as the Friends of the Ohio River Island NWR president for the past six years. She has a deep knowledge and love of plants and birds and shares that knowledge through her many volunteer activities across the region and state.

Kittie Clark (Treasurer):

Kittie is the longtime treasure of our Friends group and ardent supporter of the Ohio Rivers

Islands National Wildlife Refuge. She was roped into the position many years ago by Marilyn Ort and is still standing! She lives in Williamstown, enjoys nave plant gardening and is looking forward to passing the baton of Treasurer on to the next generation.

Jocelyn Miracle:  

Jocelyn is an Environmental Specialist for ODOT who spends weekends either at The Wilds giving educational tours or participating in Master Naturalist classes. Her passion is conserving wildlife, learning more about the nave plants and animals and ways to educate and inspire others on the importance and beauty of our ecosystem. She spent a few summers in South Africa researching Large Animal Ecology and working with Great White Sharks! Scuba, hiking, and studying herpetology are her favorite pastimes! Jocelyn got her degree in Organismal Biology from Auburn University and is looking forward to learning and connecting with our community and the amazing outdoor opportunities we have here!

Dawn Hewit:  

As an undergraduate at West Virginia University, it was a course in ornithology that changed Dawn Hewit’s life. She has been a serious birder since 1979. It took 35 years for her to find her dream job: In 2013, she moved to Marieta, Ohio, to become the managing editor, and eventually the editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest. When that company failed, Dawn was thrilled to be offered the position of managing editor for the phoenix of its successor: BWD Magazine (bwdmagazine.com). Because she cares deeply about the wellbeing of birds and other wildlife, Dawn is eager to help the Friends of ORINWR as they work to protect and restore habitat, and to encourage understanding and appreciation of the natural world—right here at home in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Nikki Racer:   

Nikki Racer lives in Friendly, WV. Originally from Southwestern Pennsylvania, Nikki studied Environmental Science. She is passionate about biodiversity preservation and ecological restoration.  Outside of work, she enjoys hiking/botanizing, backpacking, kayaking, and fly fishing. Her love of nature was cultivated at a young age; from grandparents who gardened and enjoyed watching the bird feeders, to many camping/hiking trips with her parents, especially to the Allegheny National Forest and the old growth forest of Hearts Content.

Adam Weaver:  

Adam is a local to the Mid-Ohio Valley with a passion for herpetology and a background in graphic design. These two interests intersect through his artwork, which primarily features reptiles and amphibians of Appalachia. In addition to his work with The Friends of The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Adam also sits on the board for The West Virginia

Herpetological Society and is a Master Naturalist in our local Wood County, West Virginia Chapter. Outside of volunteer work, Adam has a passion for hiking, amateur photography, and field herping.

John Dennis:   

John grew up in Pleasants County, West Virginia and after many careers (Navy, biology teacher, nursing) he and his wife landed near where they started. They now reside in Waverly, West Virginia with a view of the Ohio River. John’s passions include many outdoor activities. He is becoming a West Virginia Master Naturalist; he is active in many restoration projects, he is an avid photographer, and finally, he is an amateur astronomer. Watch for his astronomy nights at the Ohio River Island Visitor’s Center.

Ben Shuman:

Ben is a lifelong resident of Vienna. Most recently he spent nearly a decade as the Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg. He has woven his biology and naturalist experience into a number of endeavors — most recently, he was contracted to author 162 species descriptions for the National Audubon Society’s newest publication, ‘Wildflowers of North America’ which was published this April. Ben is active in the West Virginia Herpetological Society and the West Virginia Master Naturalist program. He also comes with some serious tech experience which we hope he will share with our Friends group.