Director of Development
Originally from Maryland, Crys found her heart and her forever home in West Virginia. One dip in the Shenandoah River was all it took. She fell hard for the rivers, the mountains, and the tight-knit communities that care deeply for both. Before long, she was proudly calling herself an “adopted West Virginian” and diving headfirst into the world of outdoor recreation and conservation.
Now happily “eddied out” in Kingwood, Crys brings her energy, experience, and big-picture thinking to the WV Land Trust. After earning her BS in Sustainable Resource Management and an MS in Environmental Policy and Management, she deepened her commitment to service through AmeriCorps, gaining hands-on experience working alongside communities to protect West Virginia’s natural resources. She went on to work with nonprofits across the state, helping connect people’s passions to mission-driven projects and initiatives at the heart of conserving land, water, and working landscapes.
For Crys, land conservation is about more than just protecting beautiful places; it’s about ensuring future generations have access to clean water, healthy forests, and the same sense of belonging and possibility that made her fall in love with West Virginia in the first place. Whether building partnerships, supporting grassroots efforts, or turning creative energy into meaningful action, she thrives at the intersection of people and place.
When she’s not working to safeguard West Virginia’s special places, you’ll likely find Crys on a trail or a river with family and friends, often accompanied by her three adventure-loving dogs, Snoop Dogg, Master P, and Nelly, who are always ready for the next outdoor escapade.
