Holly Neill is the Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri. She is a graduate of Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters of Natural and Applied Science. Her thesis research was conducted at the Ozark Underground Laboratory and focused on land use effects on cave systems. She has also worked in the public school system to integrate scientists into the classroom through a National Science Foundation Fellowship and has experience in the medical and environmental consulting fields. Holly previously served as the executive director of the James River Basin Partnership and Stream Teams United.
Currently she supports TNC’s statewide conservation efforts through her external affairs role and additionally is the TNC team lead for Renewable Energy and Carbon Reduction efforts and provides leadership for the Mo 4R Initiative working with agricultural partners. She also fills the government relations role and works on both state and federal legislation and policy.
Holly has always been drawn to the outdoors and our natural resources. She knew at a very young age that her life’s work would be focused on protecting and improving our natural environments. She currently resides in Springfield, MO and in her free time you can most likely find her floating on a river, swimming in a lake, or exploring the outdoors.
