This winter, Schiff Natural Lands Trust in Mendham welcomed Dorian von Aulock, of Long Valley, to the position of executive director. She succeeds Schiff’s outgoing director of three years, Jeanne Westervelt Rice, who will remain involved with Schiff as a trustee.

In her former position, von Aulock comes to Schiff as the director of Operations and Service Learning at The Willow School in Gladstone.

Alex Battey of Mendham, president of Schiff Natural Lands Trust, Inc., said “Dorian brings with her a strong background in nonprofit management, policy and procedural development, fundraising, children’s recreational and service learning programming, and sustainability. We are excited to bring her onto the team.”

At The Willow School, von Aulock facilitated an academically connected service learning program that partnered students in preschool through eighth grade with environmental nonprofits in the area, including Schiff. She holds a bachelor’s from The University of Colorado and in 2012 graduated from the Rutgers Master Gardener program.

“I am thrilled and humbled to be chosen as Schiff’s next executive director,” said von Aulock. “Schiff Natural Lands Trust, Inc provides our local communities with a model in land preservation and conservation, serving to teach our residents and community leaders about sustainable land stewardship practices. We have miles of trails for hiking and passive recreation, many activities and classes led by Schiff naturalists, and a signature summer nature program for children all made possible because of the work of those before me. I am excited to bring new ideas, efforts, and processes to serve the organization in the further pursuit of the mission of Schiff. ”

The Schiff Natural Lands Trust, Inc. is a member-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving open space, serving as a model of stewardship and environmental education, and improving the ecological value of natural areas using best management practices. For more information and to register for one of its many programs, visit www.schiffnaturepreserve.org.