Luke grew up in Maryland and attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he first cut his teeth in invasive species management and volunteer organizing as the Chancellor’s Point Fellow with Historic St. Mary’s City.

After graduating, and following a brief foray into the world of professional bread baking, Luke became a crew leader for Utah Conservation Corps where he led backcountry invasive plant removal projects in remote corners of the Colorado Plateau. Following UCC, he joined the National Park Service as park ranger in Yellowstone, working with the park’s residential youth program.

Luke believes in the transformative power of wild places, and that the path to protecting vulnerable ecosystems lies in inspiring and empowering communities though field work and first-hand experiences in nature. He is excited to be joining the Wild Arizona team, and especially to be working with its long-standing volunteer program.

When he’s not working, he spends his time backpacking, canyoneering, reading, and dreaming of the fresh seafood back in his watery homeland.