Molly joined the Blackfoot Challenge as Science Director in December 2024. In this new position, Molly pairs applied conservation science with collaborative leadership to support Blackfoot Challenge stewardship programs and partners in the watershed. Growing up, Molly split her time between northern New Mexico and northwest Wyoming, where she developed deep connections to the communities and ecosystems that make up Western North American landscapes. She earned a B.S. from the University of Oregon, as well as an M.S. and Ph.D. in Fish and Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. Molly also holds certifications in natural conflict resolution through the University of Montana and is a Fellow of the Western Conservation Leadership Development Program. Molly has studied many species in many regions: wolves, grizzly bears and mountain lions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; sage grouse, elk and bighorn sheep across Idaho; and pronghorn, mule deer and white-tailed deer across Montana and South Dakota. Through this research, she has worked with and learned from private landowners, state and federal wildlife managers, tribal entities and NGO collaborators. When not working, Molly enjoys skiing, hiking, running and biking with her husband across Western Montana.