Staff

Holly Purpura, Executive Director

Along with years of experience in fiscal administration, project management, watershed restoration, and environmental education, Holly brings with her a fierce passion for the Earth and a love of working with the community. Prior to joining MRWC, Holly served as the Executive Director of Friends of Deckers Creek, where she oversaw the construction of large acid mine drainage treatment facilities, worked closely with the community, and led environmental education programming. Holly is a graduate of the Geography and Political Science departments of West Virginia University, and she has also worked previously with National Geographic Education and The Hunger Project United Kingdom. In her free time, she is an avid hiker, biker and boater.

Kathleen Westly, Education & Restoration Project Manager

Kathleen earned degrees in History and Business Administration from Lewis and Clark College. She has volunteered in a number of capacities, including helping to found Muddy Creek Charter School in Corvallis where she served as the Board Secretary. She is enthusiastic about engaging students in their place and helping them to become active stewards of the watershed. She uses her experience and knowledge as a 23-year watershed landowner and a decades-long avid gardener in her planting work, both with students and in conjunction with MRWC stream restoration projects.

Aubrey Cloud, Assistant Project Manager

Aubrey joined the Marys River Watershed Council as Assistant Project Manager in June 2020. Aubrey moved to Oregon from Denver, Colorado in 2011 to pursue education in Natural Resources and Ecosystem Restoration at Oregon State University. He has been working to restore the Willamette Valley’s native habitats since 2016, when he was hired by Ash Creek Forest Management. Starting as a crew member doing boots-on-the-ground restoration work, Aubrey has since worked as a Crew Leader and Project Coordinator, improving riparian and floodplain forest habitat for a wide range of clients and sites throughout the Valley. In his free time, Aubrey loves gardening with natives and leading volunteer restoration projects. Aubrey also serves as an Assistant Project Manager for the Luckiamute Watershed Council.

Jazmin Garcia, Education Coordinator

Jazmin holds a Master of Science in Marine Biology from Nova Southeastern University. Her overarching interests include behavioral ecology and wildlife conservation. She has worked on various research projects including bottlenose dolphin behavioral ecology, sea turtle migration studies, and water systems parasitology. Her bottlenose dolphin research in the Drowned Cayes, Belize has resulted in multiple publications. Jazmin is also enthusiastic about science education. In addition to her work with the Council, she is also currently a science teacher at Waldport High School. She enjoys strengthening science education and enthusiasm for students of varying grade levels and abilities. She looks forward to reaching more students through MRWC’s education programs. In her free time, Jazmin enjoys hiking, gardening, and playing with her two dogs.