Our Team

Grace Stranch, Esq.

CEO

Grace joined Harpeth Conservancy as COO in September 2021. As of April 2023, Grace is Harpeth Conservancy’s CEO.

Prior to joining the team, Grace practiced law full time at Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC, now Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC. She has engaged in environmental work across the world and has over 15 years of experience organizing around environmental issues in Tennessee. As a native Nashvillian, she grew up playing on the Harpeth River and continues to love spending time in nature. Grace received her B.A. in international studies from Rhodes College and her J.D. from University of Tennessee College of Law. Based on her significant community involvement, Grace was honored with the 2020 Athena Young Professional Award and Metro Council Resolution RS220-457 and she was named to the Nashville Bar Foundation’s 2024 class of fellows. 

Dorie Bolze

Dorie Bolze

President & Founder​

Dorie served for over 20 years as the first Executive Director of Harpeth Conservancy. As of April 2023, Dorie is Harpeth Conservancy’s President and will be focusing her efforts on capacity building and The Dorie Bolze Legacy Fund.

Dorie has over 35 years of work experience in the field of water quality science and policy, conservation policy and biology related to wildlife conservation, energy efficiency, marine fisheries, protected area management, and international wildlife trade. Dorie earned her Masters of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of Forestry and her B.S. in zoology from Duke University where she was an A.B. Duke Scholar and a Deborah Steer Scholar at the Duke Marine Laboratory. In April 2023, Dorie was recognized as Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence for the Nonprofit Leader category, which honors women who “display high energy and skill in a leadership role at a nonprofit institute or organization.” 

Ryan Jackwood Staff Photo Resized

Ryan Jackwood, Ph.D.​

Director of Watershed Science​

Ryan joined Harpeth Conservancy in March 2019. He provides strategic direction for our science-based programs and implements restoration priorities based on water quality assessment. Ryan is originally from Ohio where he earned a B.S. degree from Ohio State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Toledo researching issues with water quality and harmful algal blooms on Lake Erie. Ryan was awarded the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s 2024 Water Conservationist of the Year.

Marie Campbell, MDiv​

Community Engagement Director​

Marie joined Harpeth Conservancy in August 2022. She brings over 15 years of experience mobilizing communities and building organizations that practice economic, racial, and environmental justice in the U.S. South. She has a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University where she focused on culture, ecology, and social movements, and has completed coursework toward a Masters of Conservation Biology from Miami University focusing on grassroots conservation, specifically environmental justice issues related to land, water, and food.

Marie grew up eating tomatoes and okra from her grandpa’s garden on the Coosa River right next to one of Georgia’s “dirtiest” coal-fired power plants, Plant Hammond (now decommissioned). She understands the high cost of industrial pollution and environmental injustice and is passionate about protecting clean water and ecosystems for the rivers, people, and critters of Tennessee.

Elise Karpinski, Esq.

Director of Clean water Protection

Elise serves as Director of Clean Water Protection, leading Harpeth Conservancy’s policy work, liaising with grassroots coalitions and state and local officials on state-wide conservation issue campaigns and advocacy efforts.

Over the last 10 years, Elise has practiced in areas of compliance and land use law, and served on the boards of various Nashville non-profits. Elise received B.A.s in Political Science and English from Appalachian State University and her J.D. from Elon University. Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Elise is a seventh-generation Appalachian mountaineer. Hailing from a family of educators and farmers, protection of water and land is engraved in her core.

Jessica Baggetta

Director of Development

Jessica joined Harpeth Conservancy in January 2025 as the Director of Development. She brings more than a decade of experience in non-profit event planning and fundraising, along with a further background in sports management. Jessica received a BA in Political Science from the University of Florida and an M.Ed. in Sports Management from the University of Texas at Austin. She grew up on the bayous of south Louisiana and appreciates how precious local waterways are to our environment and all who enjoy them.

Katie Maxwell

Operations Manager

Katie joined Harpeth Conservancy in August 2024. She brings experience in organizational change management and nonprofit administration. With a Master’s in Organization Leadership from Seattle University, Katie is excited to bring her passion for teams and systems to Harpeth Conservancy. Although she’s from the Carolinas, Katie moved to Nashville in 2020 by way of the Puget Sound Region in Washington state. She enjoys spending free time in local parks with her family and exploring Greater Nashville’s food scene. 

Angela Bryan

Philanthropy & Membership Manager​

Angela joined Harpeth Conservancy in December 2019. She is a longtime community non-profit administrator with more than 20 years of experience in program development. With a B.A. in Sociology from Western Kentucky University, Angela has built a career at multiple nonprofits in Nashville and beyond, including Renewal House, St. Luke’s Community House, and FiftyForward. A Cheatham County native, she was raised on the Harpeth River and loves kayaking, hiking, and being outdoors.  

Ryan Robison

Events Manager

Ryan joined Harpeth Conservancy in April 2023. Prior to joining the team, Ryan served as the director of festivals and events for various nonprofits including Greater Dolores Action and Montezuma Land Conservancy in western Colorado. While living and working in western Colorado he gained valuable knowledge on the importance of fostering support and working with communities on rural environmental issues like water rights.

Originally from Louisiana, Ryan spent his childhood playing on the water, jumping in puddles, camping with family, and falling in love with nature. He is now falling in love with this beautiful area of the country and in his free time you can catch him outside paddling, running, hiking, or biking in the places he now calls home. He is excited to help Harpeth Conservancy continue spreading the message of the importance of our waterways and the ways in which we can all work together to restore and protect them.

Jess Martin, MSc

Communications Manager​

Jess joined Harpeth Conservancy in October 2023. Although originally from West Virginia, she’s spent the last 18 years residing in diverse corners of the world, primarily across the Middle East and North Africa.

Jess earned her Master of Science from West Virginia University in 2010. She had already been working with several international faith-based nonprofits dedicated to assisting refugees and the most vulnerable communities in Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa prior to this. It was there that she discovered her fervent commitment to making a difference in the lives of people and telling their stories to inspire meaningful change.

Grace Stranch, Esq.

CEO

Grace joined Harpeth Conservancy as COO in September 2021. As of April 2023, Grace is Harpeth Conservancy’s CEO.

Prior to joining the team, Grace practiced law full time at Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC, now Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC. She has engaged in environmental work across the world and has over 15 years of experience organizing around environmental issues in Tennessee. As a native Nashvillian, she grew up playing on the Harpeth River and continues to love spending time in nature. Grace received her B.A. in international studies from Rhodes College and her J.D. from University of Tennessee College of Law. Based on her significant community involvement, Grace was honored with the 2020 Athena Young Professional Award and Metro Council Resolution RS220-457 and she was named to the Nashville Bar Foundation’s 2024 class of fellows. 

Dorie Bolze

Dorie Bolze

President & Founder​

Dorie served for over 20 years as the first Executive Director of Harpeth Conservancy. As of April 2023, Dorie is Harpeth Conservancy’s President and will be focusing her efforts on capacity building and The Dorie Bolze Legacy Fund.

Dorie has over 35 years of work experience in the field of water quality science and policy, conservation policy and biology related to wildlife conservation, energy efficiency, marine fisheries, protected area management, and international wildlife trade. Dorie earned her Masters of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of Forestry and her B.S. in zoology from Duke University where she was an A.B. Duke Scholar and a Deborah Steer Scholar at the Duke Marine Laboratory. In April 2023, Dorie was recognized as Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence for the Nonprofit Leader category, which honors women who “display high energy and skill in a leadership role at a nonprofit institute or organization.” 

Ryan Jackwood Staff Photo Resized

Ryan Jackwood, Ph.D.​

Director of Watershed Science​

Ryan joined Harpeth Conservancy in March 2019. He provides strategic direction for our science-based programs and implements restoration priorities based on water quality assessment. Ryan is originally from Ohio where he earned a B.S. degree from Ohio State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Toledo researching issues with water quality and harmful algal blooms on Lake Erie. Ryan was awarded the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s 2024 Water Conservationist of the Year.

Marie Campbell, MDiv​

Community Engagement Director​

Marie joined Harpeth Conservancy in August 2022. She brings over 15 years of experience mobilizing communities and building organizations that practice economic, racial, and environmental justice in the U.S. South. She has a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University where she focused on culture, ecology, and social movements, and has completed coursework toward a Masters of Conservation Biology from Miami University focusing on grassroots conservation, specifically environmental justice issues related to land, water, and food.

Marie grew up eating tomatoes and okra from her grandpa’s garden on the Coosa River right next to one of Georgia’s “dirtiest” coal-fired power plants, Plant Hammond (now decommissioned). She understands the high cost of industrial pollution and environmental injustice and is passionate about protecting clean water and ecosystems for the rivers, people, and critters of Tennessee.

Elise Karpinski, Esq.

Director of Clean water Protection

Elise serves as Director of Clean Water Protection, leading Harpeth Conservancy’s policy work, liaising with grassroots coalitions and state and local officials on state-wide conservation issue campaigns and advocacy efforts.

Over the last 10 years, Elise has practiced in areas of compliance and land use law, and served on the boards of various Nashville non-profits. Elise received B.A.s in Political Science and English from Appalachian State University and her J.D. from Elon University. Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Elise is a seventh-generation Appalachian mountaineer. Hailing from a family of educators and farmers, protection of water and land is engraved in her core.

Jessica Baggetta

Director of Development

Jessica joined Harpeth Conservancy in January 2025 as the Director of Development. She brings more than a decade of experience in non-profit event planning and fundraising, along with a further background in sports management. Jessica received a BA in Political Science from the University of Florida and an M.Ed. in Sports Management from the University of Texas at Austin. She grew up on the bayous of south Louisiana and appreciates how precious local waterways are to our environment and all who enjoy them.

Katie Maxwell

Operations Manager

Katie joined Harpeth Conservancy in August 2024. She brings experience in organizational change management and nonprofit administration. With a Master’s in Organization Leadership from Seattle University, Katie is excited to bring her passion for teams and systems to Harpeth Conservancy. Although she’s from the Carolinas, Katie moved to Nashville in 2020 by way of the Puget Sound Region in Washington state. She enjoys spending free time in local parks with her family and exploring Greater Nashville’s food scene. 

Angela Bryan

Philanthropy & Membership Manager​

Angela joined Harpeth Conservancy in December 2019. She is a longtime community non-profit administrator with more than 20 years of experience in program development. With a B.A. in Sociology from Western Kentucky University, Angela has built a career at multiple nonprofits in Nashville and beyond, including Renewal House, St. Luke’s Community House, and FiftyForward. A Cheatham County native, she was raised on the Harpeth River and loves kayaking, hiking, and being outdoors.  

Ryan Robison

Events Manager

Ryan joined Harpeth Conservancy in April 2023. Prior to joining the team, Ryan served as the director of festivals and events for various nonprofits including Greater Dolores Action and Montezuma Land Conservancy in western Colorado. While living and working in western Colorado he gained valuable knowledge on the importance of fostering support and working with communities on rural environmental issues like water rights.

Originally from Louisiana, Ryan spent his childhood playing on the water, jumping in puddles, camping with family, and falling in love with nature. He is now falling in love with this beautiful area of the country and in his free time you can catch him outside paddling, running, hiking, or biking in the places he now calls home. He is excited to help Harpeth Conservancy continue spreading the message of the importance of our waterways and the ways in which we can all work together to restore and protect them.

Jess Martin, MSc

Communications Manager​

Jess joined Harpeth Conservancy in October 2023. Although originally from West Virginia, she’s spent the last 18 years residing in diverse corners of the world, primarily across the Middle East and North Africa.

Jess earned her Master of Science from West Virginia University in 2010. She had already been working with several international faith-based nonprofits dedicated to assisting refugees and the most vulnerable communities in Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa prior to this. It was there that she discovered her fervent commitment to making a difference in the lives of people and telling their stories to inspire meaningful change.

Our Interns

Emma Kate Hall

Policy Intern - Belmont university

Emma Kate Hall is a sixth generation Middle Tennessean, born and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee. She proudly attended the University of Tennessee and earned her B.A. in Political Science in 2021. She is now in her second year of study at Belmont College of Law where she serves as a Senator with the Student Bar Association and member of the American Constitution Society and Women’s Legal Society.

As the daughter of an avid outdoorsman, Emma Kate spent much of her childhood on the waters of Tennessee, learning the importance of caring for the environment and being a good steward of all that it gives us. She is excited to be a part of the team at Harpeth as they work to ensure Tennessee’s environment will be enjoyed for generations to come

Camille Murasighe

Policy Intern - Belmont University

Camille joined Harpeth Conservancy as a Policy Intern in January 2025. As an avid backpacker and climber, she is passionate about environmental advocacy and is excited to work to protect the precious waterways of middle Tennessee.

Originally hailing from Dallas, Texas, Camille received her B.A. in Environmental & Sustainability Studies from Wake Forest University and is in her second year of law school at the Belmont University College of Law.