Class 21: Happy Birthday NRLI!

by Wendy-Lin Bartles, Interim NRLI Director

NRLI alumni, we have much to celebrate. In May, we welcomed a bright new constellation of 24 professionals into our network. Not only does this year’s graduating class uniquely add to our combined luminescence, but they also allow us to commemorate an important milestone: Our 21^st Birthday. Happy Birthday, NRLI! Furthermore, the latest cohort raises our strength in numbers to a round 400 alumni.

Over the past year, because we were following COVID safety protocols, the project team did not encourage alumni to attend NRLI sessions (or graduation). We missed your presence at roundtables, dinners, fieldtrips, and firesides. And we lost an important opportunity to introduce you to the exceptional individuals who make up Class 21. I encourage you to browse our alumni map and learn about this group of talented leaders. Perhaps reach out to one person in your region and welcome them to your community of collaborators.  

If you lost track of people from your class, or wonder which of these FOUR HUNDRED talented facilitator-conflict-management-experts are located in your region (or institution!), I urge you to explore the interactive NRLI alumni map here: https://nrlialumni.org/ -- If your profile is out of date or you have moved on to a new position / organization, make changes yourself online. If you forgot the secret handshake, simply reset your password yourself, using this link: https://nrlialumni.org/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword -- If all fails, contact wendylin@ufl.edu

NRLI Class 22 graduated on May 6 at the Sweetwater Branch Inn in Gainesville - congratulations!

New opportunity for African American professionals

Class 21 took a significant step toward expanding diversity in NRLI through the initiation of a new equity and inclusion scholarship. The mastermind of these efforts, Rosezetta Bobo (photo on right), is the Diversity Officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. During her participation in the class, Rosezetta often catalyzed or deepened discussions about the overall lack of diverse participation in many of the issues we examined. "NRLI was an experiential introduction into the areas of conservation and natural resource management throughout the State of Florida. I wanted to believe that the lack of diversity that exists in these areas was not intentional. But each month as we gathered, my belief grew stronger that whatever the reason may be, I must do something that would make a difference." 

In search of greater participation and engagement of African Americans in NRLI, Rosezetta worked with the project team to establish a new scholarship. She also motivated a fundraising campaign. In response, individuals from Class 21 contributed to a group donation that spearheaded ongoing efforts. Furthermore, Craig Diamond, treasurer of the NRLI Alumni Association, worked behind-the-scenes to expand the pie. Through alumni generosity and support from Garry Jones of Winter Park and another private sponsor, NRLI is offering TWO Rosezetta Bobo Equity & Inclusion Scholarships for Class 22. 

We thank our 22 donors. Some alumni (listed by NRLI class) are named below, others remain anonymous. Our gratitude goes out to Rosezetta for her leadership and for securing a large private donation. And to Class 21 for lighting up this movement. You too can build continuity for this scholarship into the future. Send a check to the Alumni Association (Craig Diamond, Treasurer; 405 Inglewood Dr; Tallahassee, FL 32301) or donate online (link below). 

If you notice a member of your NRLI class listed here, we challenge you to join them now! If your class is not yet listed, be the first!

• 3: Gregory Golgowski, Wendy-Lin Bartels
• 4: Jonathan Dain
• 7: Kathleen McKee
• 8: Tatiana Borisova
• 10: Craig Diamond, Leslie Corcelli
• 11: Shannon Carnevale
• 12: Bette A. Loiselle
• 16: Erika Zambello
• 17: Rachael Santana, Katie Britt-Williams
• 18: Jay Garcia
• 19: Andrew Rappe and anonymous
• 21: Cohort sponsor and additionally Gregory P DeAngelo and Gregory Owen (and another anonymous – twice!)

Forty one!

Thanks in large part to all of your help with recruiting, we received a record 41 applications for NRLI Class 22! And in case you were wondering what 41 applications look like, we thought a photo might help (see right). 

Needless to say, it was an extraordinarily tough task to narrow down the applicants to form a reasonably-sized cohort, so if you know someone who applied and wasn't accepted this year, please do encourage them to apply again next year.

The project team is in the early planning stages for each of the sessions listed in the schedule below. If you're interested in helping with planning a particular session and haven't already contacted us, please let us know - our alumni are our biggest asset when planning NRLI sessions!