Our Staff & Board
People with a passion for parks
Our philosophy is simple – form and maintain a positive relationship with every donor, volunteer and partner – and the rest will follow. We consider our supporters family, and as family, we share a common goal to work together for the betterment of Lincoln Park. Our volunteer Board of Directors believe in our responsibility to care for the environment, advocate for open space, and nurture peoples’ connection to our park’s nature and history. All our Board members either live near the park or grew up playing in the park and they spend significant time enjoying the park today with their children, grandchildren or pets.
We believe Lincoln Park is what makes living in the third largest city in the United States livable. It’s the “lungs of our city” giving us all room to breathe and it is important to everyone’s quality of life. So when we hear park visitors say – “It’s my park” – we understand completely.
“There must be the generating force of love behind every effort destined to be successful.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
Our Staff
Lauren Robinson
Executive Director
Lauren joined the team as the Executive Director of the Lincoln Park Conservancy in the fall of 2025. She brings 16+ years of nonprofit leadership experience in development, community engagement, volunteer, and board management. Most recently, she was Vice President of Development & Community Engagement at PAWS Chicago. Lauren is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) who has worked across the nonprofit sector, from environmental organizations to food insecurity, animal welfare, and youth development. As a longtime Chicagoan, she is passionate about ensuring the long-term care and restoration of our park sites.
Jeffrey Seleb
Manager of Operations
As the Manager of Operations, I help preserve historic sites, restore natural habitats and support public programs that bring people into Lincoln Park. I joined the Lincoln Park Conservancy in 2021. With a background in geography, natural environmental systems, and an MBA, I enjoy solving problems, improving processes and using tools like GIS and web design to make a difference. Outside of work, you’ll probably find me hiking, exploring parks, listening to music or seeing a movie. I am often brainstorming the next big improvement to keep things running smoothly – both in nature and in the office.
Jason Knowles
Manager of Volunteer Programs
Jason Knowles holds a degree in Information Systems from Illinois State University and has experience in technology, customer service, agriculture, and conservation. He began volunteering at the Lincoln Park Conservancy in 2023. Before joining LPC, Jason contributed his time to organizations such as the Center on Halsted, Open Lands, and Nourishing Hope. Coming from a family of farmers, Jason enjoys tending to his neighborhood gardens and growing his own vegetables. When not in the garden, he can be found cycling along the lakefront, and improving his culinary skills.
Matt Evans
Manager of Park Stewardship
Matt Evans is from the Chicago suburbs and is involved in environmental work through the efforts of several organizations. He learned to appreciate volunteer community stewardship early on, making a lasting impact which guides his work today. After earning an M.S. in Plant Biology and Conservation from Northwestern University, Matt worked as an ecologist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He is passionate about sharing the importance of native plants and loves giving tours and propagating interesting, important native plants from seeds that most people don’t know but would admire. When he is not in nature, Matt likes cooking, gardening, family time, reading fiction and nature related books, and bird watching.
Adriana Gonzalez
Manager of Visitor Services
With over a decade of experience in customer service, Adriana joined the Lincoln Park Conservatory in the Spring of 2023. Coming from the Shedd Aquarium, where she spent 9 years as one of their guest relations ambassadors, she’s also worked in some of Chicago’s notable landmarks like Navy Pier and the Chicago Theatre. She is both a digital and film photographer, who enjoys spending time in nature, drinking coffee, and reading fantasy novels.
Oisín Heneghan
Manager of Development
Oisín Heneghan rejoined the Lincoln Park Conservancy in the spring of 2026. He first worked with LPC as an Administrative Assistant and Lily Pool Program Coordinator back in 2018, while he completed an M.S. in Economics and Policy Analysis at DePaul University. In the interim, he worked as the Senior Development Manager at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Outside of work, he can be found running, reading, or performing improv comedy.
Alice Hurst
Development Coordinator
Alice Hurst joined the Lincoln Park Conservancy in the fall of 2025. She graduated from Colgate University with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a double minor in Environmental Studies and Classics. She has experience working with non-profits from her volunteer work with PAWS Chicago, the Chicago Ornithological Society, and the HANA Center. In her free time, Alice enjoys spending time with family and her pets and listening to music.
Board of Directors
Buffie Berger
Co-Treasurer
Civic Leader
Kristina Mulhall
Secretary
Civic Leader
Isabel Carpenter
Director
Civic Leader
Brittany Graunke
Director
Civic Leader
Julie Jahn
Director
Civic Leader
Maggie Johnston
Director
Civic Leader
Melinda Munson
Director
Civic Leader
Norman Raidl
Director
Civic Leader
Kelly Small
Director
Civic Leader
Heidi Suprenant
Director
Civic Leader
Nicole Werner
Director
Civic Leader
Cathy Breitenbach
Chicago Park District Representative
Director of Cultural & Natural Resources