Rebecca Esselman

Rebecca Esselman serves as the Executive Director of the Huron River Watershed Council since June 2012, overseeing an 18-person nonprofit organization with a $2.7M annual budget. Esselman has led climate adaptation projects and contributed to watershed planning, emphasizing river restoration and pollution prevention. Prior experience includes roles as a Conservation Knowledge Specialist at The Nature Conservancy, where engagement with biodiversity conservation professionals facilitated the management of knowledge assets, and as a Research Associate at the University of Michigan, focusing on landscape ecology. Early career roles included Volunteer Coordinator and Steward at The Nature Conservancy and Stewardship Assistant at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Rebecca holds an MS in Conservation Ecology from The University of Georgia and a BS in Botany from Michigan State University.