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 19 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 degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University. 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.

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.

Angelina McIntosh graduated from UNO with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She has spent time volunteering with Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Nebraska Humane Society, Fontenelle Forest, Raptor Recovery, and the Nature Conservancy. When she’s not spending time in nature, she is working in the arts and has taught students at local art studios and has done mural work around Omaha.