Who We Are

Laura is the Executive Director of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc. She is an IWRC Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator and has been a multi-species wildlife rehabilitator and public educator for more than 20 years. Laura has extensive experience in animal-related fields – She has worked as a veterinary practice manager; was the executive director of a humane society and conducted cruelty investigations for the state of Minnesota; and has served on disaster relief and wide-scale rescue teams for the HSUS. She has spent part of her professional career in the financial services industry and all of her adult life involved in the operations of small non-profits – as an employee, board member, or volunteer.

Ellie is the Rescue and Rehabilitation Coordinator at NWR. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy from Midland University and has worked in animal-related fields since 2014. Ellie started working with NWR as a summer intern in 2014 and now oversees the logistics of caring for over 7,000 animals annually.

Lauren Darnold is from Waverly, IA and holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Iowa State University and a teaching certificate in Environmental Education from Hamline University where she is also pursuing her Masters of Education in Natural Science and Environmental Education. She has previously worked with the Wildlife Care Clinic of Ames, Girl Scouts of Iowa and Utah, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Her goal is to generate passion and respect across all demographics for wild animals by creating personal experiences and bonds between people and our natural world.

Erin Higgins graduated from The University of Tampa with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska she has previously worked at a vet clinic and at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Erin started her wildlife rehabilitation career as an NWR intern while still in college and started working seasonally with us as a Wildlife Care Specialist in 2019.

Ayet is from Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She started as a summer intern in 2017 and has been involved with NWR ever since! Ayet is excited to continue working with animals and educating others on native wildlife. You can usually find her hanging out with her dogs or doing whatever is necessary for animal rescues (including going headfirst into a badger den!).

Alex is a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller based out of Omaha, NE. His interest in conservation initiatives takes him around the world where he documents the challenges faced by wildlife and the work of those who wish to protect it. He is an Emerging Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and a recipient of the 2019 Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellowship.

Matt works with adults and kids in elementary through high school to better understand and respect the world around them. Before co-founding Big Muddy Urban Farm and working in the urban agricultural field, Matthew graduated from Central High School (GO EAGLES) in 2007. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Studies from the University of Minnesota with minors in sustainability, social justice, and anthropology. Currently, Matthew is an adjunct professor and greenhouse manager at Iowa Western Community College, teacher at Montessori Children's Room, outreach coordinator for an environmental advocacy group, and educator with NWR. Matt also serves as the president of the Douglas County Farmers Union and is a long-time volunteer with his neighborhood's community garden, youth garden programming and youth soccer camp.

Dayna is currently a UNO student, pursuing her B.S. in Biology. Early on in her career, she completed an environmental education internship with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Since then, she has been involved with a wide variety of conservation organizations, including Nebraska Game and Parks, the UNO Audubon Student Conservation Chapter, the Student Conservation Association, Nebraska Master Naturalist and more. Her favorite place outdoors is anywhere with water that she can swim in!

Briana Kouma graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Management with a minor in Environmental Studies. She has studied abroad in Botswana, Africa, and was born and raised in Nebraska. Previously she has worked at a vet clinic, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Nebraska Humane Society, and helped with a bunch of different wildlife and agriculture research projects.

Russell graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science. His interest in wildlife and native ecosystems blossomed as an upperclassman and really took flight while doing research on nematomorpha during his senior year. He looks forward to sharing his interests with others through Nebraska Wildlife Rehab. He also enjoys exploring the outdoors, running, and Ultimate Frisbee.

Trevor Pellerite grew up surrounded by Minnesota's wild lakes and learned at an early age that he would rather be outside than doing pretty much anything else. After earning a Bachelor's degree in writing from Northern Michigan University, he worked in Montana briefly before moving to Colorado to attend law school. While in Colorado Trevor became involved in prairie conservation and education. His goal is to help instill future generations with a love of wildlife and their habitats that will ensure their continued survival and success.