Dr. Vernita Ediger earned her doctorate in Environmental Anthropology from Stanford University, focusing on working landscape conservation, cooperative resource management, institutional structures and power dynamics, and mechanisms through which public perceptions influence land management. Prior to her time with COFSF, Vernita served as the Executive Director the Blue Mountains Forest Partners (BMFP), where she developed new approaches that enabled BMFP to triple their annual project acreage and their income. As the Executive Director for COFSF, she is excited to grow the Foundation by expanding and branding COFSF programs. Vernita provides strategic direction, facilitation, and fund development for the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project and Ochoco Forest Restoration Collaborative, and engages with other collaborative natural resource efforts, such as the Wild Horse Sounding Board and the Deschutes Trails Coalition.