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Staff

Elise Tillinghast, Executive Director

Elise Tillinghast

Elise Tillinghast has served as the executive director of the Center for Northern Woodlands Education since 2012. She also edits Northern Woodlands magazine and writes the This Week in the Woods phenology blog, based mostly on observations in her Vermont woodlot. In the past, she has volunteered for several environmental nonprofits, but these days she spends most of her free time running after her kids, dog, and husband. Elise has degrees from Harvard Law School and Dartmouth College and enjoys creating bad art.

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Emily S. Rowe, Circulation and Communications Manager

Emily S. Rowe

Emily Rowe joined the staff at Northern Woodlands in the spring of 2010, and has served as the circulation and communications manager since 2019. She distributes Northern Woodlands magazine, manages our website and social media, and coordinates special events. Emily lives in Corinth, Vermont, where her free time is spent mostly basketweaving, thinking about basketweaving, or reading about basketweaving.

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J Cantrell, Director of Finance and Operations

J Cantrell

J Cantrell is the Director of Finance and Operations for Northern Woodlands.  He has six years of nonprofit experience. You will most likely find him running and biking in the forest.  He lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire with his wife and three kids.

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Meghan McCarthy McPhaul, Associate Editor

Meghan McCarthy McPhaul

Meghan McCarthy McPhaul, associate editor for Northern Woodlands, is a lifelong woods wanderer. She was a contributing writer for Northern Woodlands for several years before joining the staff in 2020 and has written for regional and national publications on a variety of topics ranging from skiing and paddling to gardening and local treasures. When she’s not tapping away at the keyboard, Meghan is likely to be wandering the woods or mountains by foot, ski, bike, or snowshoe – often with kids and dog in tow – beseeching vegetables to grow in the rocky soil of the backyard garden, or lost in the pages of a good book. Meghan lives in Franconia, New Hampshire, with her family.

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Nancy Farwell, Circulation and Ad Sales Coordinator

Nancy Farwell

Nancy’s background in design, library science, and education lends well to her role as advertising ace, information curator, and community outreach champion. She has lived in the Upper Valley region for over 20 years – mostly in New Hampshire, but recently a house prompted her to move to Vermont. Nancy is an avid knitter and side gig crafter who enjoys downtime outdoors to walk, hike, or XC ski. She belongs to the office mascot, Percy, who is frequently featured in our merchandise ads and social posts.

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Rebecca Hanissian,

Rebecca Hanissian

Rebecca is the editorial and outreach coordinator for Northern Woodlands. Prior to joining the staff in 2023, Rebecca contributed to Northern Woodlands magazine and the Outside Story series while home raising her three children. Her nonprofit work experience includes New Hampshire Audubon and Vermont Works for Women. Rebecca has taught collegiate ecology, environmental science, and English. More often than not, she can be found Nordic skiing, mountain biking, or hiking with her husband and children near their home in Lyme, New Hampshire.