I was born and raised near Denver, Colorado, and from a young age, I enjoyed everything in the natural world! 
I graduated, cum laude, from the University of Colorado in 1976, with a B.A. in Environmental Biology, including a year of undergrad work at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  In 1976, I accepted a Research Assistantship from Oregon State University (OSU), and graduated with a M.S. in Forest Ecology in 1978.  I stayed at OSU as a Silviculture Assistant for another year to manage research projects while my major professor was on sabbatical.

In 1979, I moved to Big Bar, California, to work for the U.S. Forest Service, primarily writing NEPA documents for timber sales.  In 1981, I accepted a job as Forester with the Sealaska Corporation, and have been in Juneau ever since.  At Sealaska, I worked extensively on their resource inventory and also initiated their first reforestation program on Prince of Wales Island.  In 1983, I began work as a legislative aide for Mike Davis, Representative from Fairbanks. 

The Habitat Division was seeking a biologist in their Director’s Office in 1984, and I was hired to work with then Director John Clark and Deputy Director Bruce Baker.  My duties included working on regulations and serving as legislative liaison for the Division.

After 3 years with Habitat, I moved to DEC in 1987 to work as an Ecologist and stayed there for 2 years working primarily on oil spill contingency plans, the Alaska Coastal Management Program, and emerging mariculture issues. 

In 1989, I moved to the Division of Governmental Coordination (DGC) in the Governor’s Office, and worked 13 years, under four Governors, with the Coastal Management Program.  I held various positions while at DGC, ending up as Acting Director.  While working at DGC, I also completed a second Master’s Degree of Public Administration of Natural Resource Management in 1996 from the University of Alaska Southeast.  I was honored to be the 1996 recipient of the Ernest Gruening Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

In late 2002, I accepted the Deputy Director job in the Habitat and Restoration Division at ADF&G.  Many know that in 2003, Habitat was moved to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and I accepted the offer to be the first and only Executive Director of the Office of Habitat Management and Permitting at DNR.  Our time at DNR was challenging, but we enjoyed exceptional support and camaraderie from DNR staff while there.  In 2008, OHMP was “repatriated” to ADF&G, so for the 3rd time in my career, I am back at ADF&G. 

One of my primary goals as Director of Habitat, is to ensure that the Division does an exceptional, consistent job by focusing staff and resources on priority duties.  Habitat staff have the difficult job of balancing resource development and resource protection.  Our job is made easier with the input and support of our colleagues at ADF&G.  Habitat is lucky to employ a mixture of “seasoned veterans” and “new talent” to work on these challenging permitting and project issues.

Staff Directory

On my own time and dime, I enjoy writing, photography, skiing, bike riding, peregrinating around, and travel.  I have been married to Mike Murphy, former Fisheries Biologist at Auke Bay Lab (now retired) for 24 years, and we share our home in Juneau with two beloved cats.