The Trustees Name New Manager Of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

The Trustees of Reservations announced on Thursday that Tess Renfro has been hired as manager of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge on Nantucket. Renfro, who began her duties last month, is taking the reins from former manager Diane Lang, who left the conservation non-profit earlier this year.

"We are happy to have Tess Renfro join our team on Nantucket,” said Darci Schofield, The Trustees’ Islands Director. “Tess brings a passion for connecting people to nature and making sure our visitors have a safe and pleasant experience at Coskata-Coatue."

As manager of Coskata-Coatue, Renfro will plan, organize, and manage stewardship and business operations of the 1,117-acre wildlife refuge that includes approximately 10 miles of barrier beach, old-growth maritime forest, dunes, ponds, and marshes.

Renfro will be responsible for overseeing all operations, stewardship work, and visitor services at Coskata-Coatue. In addition, she will implement and monitor beach management plans, over-sand vehicle (OSV) access, and storm-related closures to balance public enjoyment with habitat protection. She will also collaborate with The Trustees’ Islands education manager on educational programs for the public.

Renfro comes to The Trustees from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, where she worked as a park ranger. She served as the senior field presence, responsible for visitor safety and critical incident response. She also trained and assisted incoming staff, provided field instruction and tactical guidance, and responded to and investigated both emergent and non-emergent calls for service.

Prior to her position at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Renfro served as a park ranger in Douglas County, CO; as a park ranger for the State of Connecticut; as a behavioral health specialist at the Colorado Children’s Hospital; and as a community services officer at a police agency in the Denver metro area.

Renfro is an East Coast native and holds a bachelor's degree in human services and environmental science from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. She also lived and completed research at Universidad de San Francisco Quito in Galapagos, Ecuador.

“I am thrilled to join the team at The Trustees, and Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge,” Renfro said. “I am extremely passionate about connecting people to the natural world, the heart of The Trustees' mission. We have an amazing staff of rangers who are an integral part of the refuge; I am truly elated to be part of this team and community.”