Monica Nova

Originally from the east coast, Monica was raised in Virginia and upstate New York. Growing up she enjoyed exploring eastern lakes, forests, and rivers, and especially developed a deep love of, and appreciation for, the Appalachian Mountains. After graduating West Virgina University with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries, Monica worked in wide-ranging locations and diverse industry sectors while pursuing her passion for natural resources, from environmental consulting in the Washington D.C. metro area, to tracking rare and endangered species of plants, animals, and natural communities in Hawai’i. In 2000, inspired by her first visit to Yosemite National Park, Monica landed in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains. Since then, her work in the Sierras includes field biology with the USDA Forest Service and working with the Tuolumne River Trust as Sierra Nevada Program Director. In addition to running a few small businesses over the years, Monica was an Agricultural Biologist with the County of Nevada Department of Agriculture prior to joining the Sierra Streams Institute team. Outside of work Monica can be found spending time with her plants, animals, and children, as well as adventuring in the natural world both in the Sierras and beyond.