Meet the Directors

2026 HCMN Leadership Team (elected at the November 2025 Gala)

Betsy Cross

About the Hays County Master Naturalist Board

Leadership in our Master Naturalist program comes from within the Chapter and is inspired by the heart of the membership. The experiences and talents of the membership of HCMN are reflected in the work of the Board because the Board and the membership are One.

It’s hard to get to know everyone in an organization the size of HCMN, so we encourage you to take this opportunity to find out more about these folks and their roles, reach out if you are interested, make an inquiry, and hopefully identify a role that might fit your own skills and ambitions.

As you read through the bios of these volunteer leaders, keep the following in mind:

Board meetings are open to all. Anyone can attend a Board meeting, just check the Chapter calendar for dates/times/location.
Our Chapter operates under a set of formal bylaws and protocols. We are not an independent, stand-alone organization. Rather, we are a branch of a statewide organization. The state organization is “driving the bus,” and as such, we operate under the bylaws and protocols mandated by the State. It is the Board’s role to ensure our compliance and keep us in good standing to continue our important work.
We can educate, but we cannot advocate. We must remain faithful to the mission of Texas Master Naturalist™, channeling our knowledge and enthusiasm to “…provide education, outreach, and service… .” If you have any doubt that an activity or approach is in conflict with TMN’s Code of Ethics, contact a Board member and raise the question for clarification.
Become a Board member—we need more people to be interested in the administrative functions of the Chapter. If you, or someone you know, would be a good fit for one of the Board positions, reach out to a Board member to learn more about it. Make a referral or express your interest. Board activities qualify as volunteer hours. And when any one individual has a challenge fulfilling their role, there are 20 people willing to pitch in and help!

2026 Hays County Master Naturalist Officers and Board of Directors

Katie Peltier, President

Background: A finance executive with Brunswick, I retired from Corporate America in 2014 in search of a more meaningful and purposeful life. I was introduced to the Texas Master Naturalist™ (TMN) program in 2015 while visiting family, who were active in the Lost Pines Chapter. The people and mission of TMN seemed a perfect match. However, at the time I was living in Chicago, so the TMN program wasn’t an option. Instead, I became an Illinois-based Master Gardener and found deeply rewarding ways to stay connected to nature and community. I served as a docent and tour guide at the Garfield Park Conservatory and helped a first-grade class plan and build a neighborhood pollinator garden—experiences that affirmed how powerful environmental education can be at any age. I finally made my way to Texas in 2020 and joined the TMN program in 2023.

HCMN Graduating Class: Proud member of the 2023 HCMN Training Class—the River Cooters!!

Favorite Volunteer Activity: Collaborating with staff at Hays County Parks and working alongside fellow volunteers at Jacob’s Well and Sentinel Peak Preserve has been especially meaningful. The shared commitment to educating the community and preserving our natural resources continues to inspire me.

Chapter Role: I am currently serving the great members of the Hays County Master Naturalist Chapter as President. I was the Membership Director for the prior two years.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: I was introduced to Aldo Leopold during training, and reading A Sand County Almanac for HCMN Book Club really stayed with me. His writing is poetic yet grounded, painting vivid pictures of the natural world while quietly challenging us to rethink our relationship with it. What makes the greatest impact on me is his reminder that good stewardship isn’t about grand gestures, but about everyday awareness, humility, and consistent care for the land around us.

Kelly Pierce, Vice President

Background: I have lived in Central Texas since 2008, and in Hays County since 2016. I moved to the area to study Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at UT Austin, and graduated with a Ph.D. in 2014. I studied how tick feeding behavior influences disease transmission and did most of my field work in East Texas. I loved doing field research in Texas, and it gave me a chance to explore and fall in love with Texas's public outdoor spaces and rich natural history. In the years since graduating, I have worked as a biological data scientist both in private industry and for public agencies. The focus of my work has been understanding disease risk, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture degree at UT, where I'm studying how landscape design can be used to manage risk. I joined the Hays County Master Naturalist to reconnect with my love of the Central Texas outdoors and to learn more about the natural spaces in Hays County.

HCMN Graduating Class: HCMN Class of 2023 — River Cooters

Favorite Volunteer Activity: I have had the privilege of lecturing on ecology to the training classes since 2024. I love getting to meet the trainees and being part of their journey towards certification.

Chapter Role: As the Chapter Vice President, my main task is to organize speakers and locations for our monthly chapters meetings. Have a topic you'd like to learn more about, a speaker you'd like to recommend, or a venue you think would be great for a chapter meeting? Please reach out! You can contact me at kelly.vp@haysmn.org

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: Mary O'Hara! In addition to being the Training Director for my Master Naturalist class, Mary was also my mentor as a trainee. I'm so grateful to have had her support and guidance through this journey, and to get to work with her now as a member of the chapter board. Mary's enthusiasm and energy are infectious!

Tracy Mock, Secretary

Background: I am a native Austinite but have lived all over the state and currently reside in San Marcos. I've been Treasury Manager at McCoy's Building Supply for 28 years, and on the weekends I sing with a couple of local bands. My husband Larry is also a Hays County Master Naturalist. I have two grown kids. My daughter Sarah lives in San Antonio and is an Alamo Area Master Naturalist, and my son Noah lives in Missoula, Montana. I have the best dog in the world: Toby, a 6-year-old Boxer/Great Pyrenees mix. You may see him sometimes at my gigs.

HCMN Graduating Class: 2012 class graduate of the Painted Buntings

Favorite Volunteer Activity: I still work full-time so the main projects I'm involved in are being a board member, the Sessom Creek Natural Area, and invasive removal in Spring Lake.

Chapter Role: Right after graduating, I was on the Food/Hospitality Committee when we provided full dinner service at every training class, but I've been Chapter Secretary for about the past 10 years—not sure when I started this role.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: My mom—she was a Master Naturalist and a Master Gardener and had her yard designated as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. I miss her a lot.

Beth Ramey, Treasurer

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: There have been so many over the years! Presenters from our training, speakers at events, and members whose knowledge, talents, energy, and dedication inspire me! I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without the Master Naturalist influence and fellowship. I am truly grateful to be part of this organization.

Bob Adkins, Past President

Background: My background is in electrical engineering and management. I spent 38+ years in the semiconductor industry working for Motorola/Freescale/NXP. My wife, Tina, and I have lived on our ten-acre slice of northern Hays County for over thirty-five years and raised our three children here. My love of the natural world started early. I grew up hiking and backpacking in the national forests of northern Arizona. This continued after marriage and with our children. They started going on our backpacking trips by the age of three (post diapers).

HCMN Graduating Class: We were excited to finally get involved in the Master Naturalist program once I retired and became part of the 2019 Texas Horned Lizard class.

Favorite Volunteer Activity: The class structure and camaraderie developed has been incredible. One of the many things I like about the Texas Master Naturalist™program is the broad array of interest areas that it covers, as I like doing a bit of everything.

Chapter Role: I was elected HCMN VP for 2021, and then President for the following four years. As of 2026, I’m the immediate past president, which is still an HCMN board position.

Art Arizpe, Advanced Training Director

Background: I am a retired electrical engineer with extensive experience in all phases of semiconductor product development. I was the project leader and designer of many advanced microprocessors and network controllers. I am also active in the Hill Country Photography Club and serve as the coordinator of the club’s Naturescapes Photography Contest.

HCMN Graduating Class: I was in the class of 2007, the Madrones. Coming from an engineering background, the exposure to biology, ecology, geology, etc. was amazing.

Favorite Volunteer Activity: I always enjoy working on the Austin Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) along Onion Creek. I like seeing Onion Creek in all seasons. There is always something to learn.

Chapter Role: I have served as the Chapter Advanced Training Director since 2024. I was previously Communications Director from 2018 through 2021, President from 2013 through 2015, Volunteer Projects Coordinator from 2011 through 2012, and Newsletter Editor from 2009 through 2012.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: Fellow chapter member Tom Watson impressed me from the start. I worked with him as a leader on many projects in the Austin WQPL. Tom is a retired Ph.D. biologist, but he’s so unassuming that it took me a while to find that out. I learned a lot from him.

Carolyn Langlinais, Communications Director

Background: I have a Master's degree in Library and Information Studies. My focus was on technical services: cataloging and library automation. My husband, Bobby (also a Texas Master Naturalist™, 2018) and I have two daughters, Camille and Celeste. They live in Denton and Austin. Originally from Louisiana, we moved to Texas in 2000. After Bobby semi-retired in 2023, we moved to Wimberley.

HCMN Graduating Class: I graduated with the Heartwood Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist™ (Montgomery and Walker counties) in 2014, when we were still recording our volunteer hours on paper. In 2015, we started using VMS (Volunteer Management System). I’m still waiting for them to develop an app for my phone!

Favorite Volunteer Activity: I prefer to do my volunteering on my computer, so my favorite role was the online cataloging of the entire research library at Mercer Botanical Gardens in Humble, Texas. We had about a foot of water in the library during Hurricane Harvey, but because our botanist suggested we never put books on the bottom shelf, we lost only 100 titles.

Chapter Role: While at the Heartwood Chapter, I served as president for four years, then as training director for one year. I also volunteered to teach entomology at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Ellis Unit for three years. For our Hays County Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist™, I am serving as Communications Director. I am currently on the state VMS upgrade team, along with Katie Peltier, president of our chapter. I also serve on the inaugural board of the Friends of the Texas Master Naturalist as secretary.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: My father had the largest impact on me as a naturalist. He knew the names of so many plants and animals. Our favorite pastime was watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Jacques Cousteau, and National Geographic. I loved that everything could be named and classified. I heard about the Master Naturalist program while following a turtle's scratch marks in the sand during a walk in the woods near my house in The Woodlands. A friend asked what I was doing, and when I told him, he said, "You should be a Master Naturalist." And so I am.

Clover Clamons, Membership Director

Background: I’m a rock nerd, with two degrees in Geology. I’ve worked as a geologist and environmental professional in Texas for almost 30 years, specializing in karst geology and Central Texas endangered species. I’m currently serving as the Director of the Natural Resources Section in the Environmental Affairs Division of the Texas Department of Transportation, and I hope to finish out my career there someday. My work motto is to try to do a little good each day. I’ve lived in far west Buda off FM 967 in the Oak Forest neighborhood in the home my husband, Steve and I, designed and built in 2007. Our only daughter, Ivy, will be graduating from Texas State in May.

HCMN Graduating Class: I completed training in 2023 with the River Cooters!

Favorite Volunteer Activity: My favorite volunteer activities are water quality monitoring with the River Rangers in San Marcos and working with native plants and land management on the Water Quality Protection Lands.

Chapter Role: I got started on the Board as my class representative. After training, I found my groove doing registration with the training team for a couple of years, learning the ropes from Dean Lalich and getting familiar with VMS. That experience made transitioning into the Membership Director role a bit easier. Filling Katie’s shoes has been a challenge! She did it all. I’m still learning, so bear with me.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: My Master Naturalist journey was inspired by my coworker and friend, Lauren Young (formerly a Hays County Master Naturalist, now North Texas). She encouraged me to apply and was my unofficial mentor along the way, talking me off the ledge many times, giving me the best advice to try it all until I found the things I loved. Listening to her give the keynote at the Texas Master Naturalist™ Annual meeting last year, and knowing the profound impact we have had on each other’s lives has encouraged me to put my work motto into my time with the Hays County Chapter to try to do a little good each day.

Mary O’Hara, Training Co-Director / Spring Class Coodinator

Background: I inherited my passion for Nature early in life from my maternal grandmother; together, we explored the flora and fauna of Michigan. I spent childhood summers beachcombing for Petoskey stones, catching crayfish in the Muskegon River with her kitchen tongs, and blazing trails as Uncas and Hawkeye beneath massive pines and hardwoods. Fast-forward 50 years to when I landed in Texas, and the natural world looked quite different! Armored and spiny things left me at a loss to name them; wildfire was consuming Bastrop State Park in 2011. There were also flash floods—another experience out of my realm.

HCMN Graduating Class: Thus, it happened in 2015, the year I entered the HCMN program—subsequently (and obviously), I became a Cypress in honor of the lost ancients along the Blanco riverbanks. On my first day of class, Dick McBride (Coordinator and Master Naturalist extraordinaire), casually mentioned I could be on the Training Team too. BOOM! I found my tribe, my church, my place, and have been on the elite team since graduation.

Favorite Volunteer Activity: If you didn’t know already, I love to get dirty! Outside of minting new Master Naturalists, I love HCMN project workdays: John Knox Ranch removing invasive milfoil, Chaetura Canyon hauling brush, or San Marcos River cleanups. Volunteering should always be fun and soul-nurturing.

Chapter Role: My primary honor and privilege has been serving as New Class Training Director from 2020 to present. In addition, I serve as Chapter Hostess, Wimberley Community Liaison, Texas Stream Team member, and various other committees, as I seem to lack the “just say no” gene.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: (By far, the hardest question.) So many people have influenced my Master Naturalist journey that I cannot narrow it down to a favorite! Therefore, I will return to my earliest hero, Grandma Ruth. A rock hound, avid birder, philosopher, and adventurer, she taught me to be kind and gentle to all, but also to fiercely advocate for those without a voice. I like to think she’d be proud of who I’ve become.

Jill Zipperer, Training Co-Director / Fall Training Class Coordinator

Background: Raised in East Texas, I have spent my life loving and learning about the natural world around me. My childhood love of climbing trees and collecting insects developed into my passion as a science educator. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education) at Texas State University. During my undergraduate studies, I worked as an intern through the university’s Aquatic Science Adventure Camp, leading students on educational hikes, cave explorations, and snorkeling adventures. I also worked as an education intern through GirlStart, an Austin-based nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of pre-teen girls through career-centered STEM education. After graduating, I served as a fifth-grade science teacher at Dripping Springs Elementary in Dripping Springs, Texas. In July 2022, I graduated with my Master of Arts in Middle School Science Education from Western Governors University, and in 2023, I left the classroom to return to Texas State as a Ph.D. student in Dr. Kristy Daniel’s biology education lab. My research centers on connecting scientists and their local communities through service-learning and informal science at breweries. I am a board member of the Informal Science Education Association of Texas and hold certification as a Certified Interpretive Guide & Trainer through the National Association for Interpretation.

HCMN Graduating Class: · I am proud to be a member of the Class of 2022! Go caracaras!

Favorite Volunteer Activity: · I've always been a Nature Nerd and drawn to projects that get me outdoors and working with flora and fauna. However, my favorite types of volunteering involve working with people, like through the Research Rangers outreach program and serving as the Fall Training Class Director!

Chapter Role: · I get to serve on the Board as the Fall Training Class Director! I have also been the Outreach Coordinator for the Research Rangers project, the Educational Consultant for the Beautiful Hays County Coloring Book project, a docent at the Jacob's Well Natural Area, and a speaker for the HCMN Speakers Bureau.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: · At the risk of sounding too cheesy, the person who has inspired me the most is my co-director, Mary O'Hara. She embodies everything it means to be a naturalist. She is always willing to lend a hand, teach a new learner, and explore the outdoors. She has taken me under her wing and taught me so much about leadership. Mary radiates excitement and lives a life of sustainability and creativity. She is truly passionate about serving her community, as demonstrated by her early morning river clean-ups and endless hours dedicated to the Training Classes. She is also equally passionate about finding the fun and silliness in the world around her (like helping me take scrapbook photos of a taxidermied armadillo!). I'm honored to call Mary a dear friend, mentor, and partner in chaotic joy.

Dixie Camp, Volunteer Services Director

Background: Social Worker with Child Protective Services, Foster and Adoptive Children and Parents, People with Disabilities, Civil Rights, and Genetics. Community volunteer with the Hays County Master Gardener Association Educational Committee, Friends of Wimberley Parks Board member, and Hays County Child Protective Service Board President.

HCMN Graduating Class: 2004 Dragonfly Class

Favorite Volunteer Activity: Promoting the chapter with recognition of our longevity, sustainability, collegiality, and partnerships with other organizations with similar missions.

Chapter Role: Current: Director of Volunteer Service Projects. Previous: Training Committee, Membership Committee, Vice President & Program Chair, and President.

The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: Growing up in a ranching and farming family, I learned from my parents the values of conserving natural resources and stewardship of the land.