Julia Petersen

Julia joined The Nature Conservancy in May 2023 as project manager in the Keweenaw Peninsula. In this role, she directs land use and land management planning, science and community relations for TNC’s long-standing preserves and recent acquisitions in the Keweenaw Peninsula. She serves as the principal contact to government agencies, conservation organizations, local businesses, foundations and community members in their collective endeavor to develop a rural prosperity plan that balances the conservation values, cultural resources, land use, land management needs and interests of the Keweenaw community.

Prior to joining TNC, Julia worked as the senior director of programs for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, where she led the conservation department, education department and volunteer program. Before that role, she led projects and programs in local government, non-profit and federal government sectors. Julia holds bachelor’s degrees in education and psychology from the University of Michigan, a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington, and she has been and continues to pursue her doctoral degree in environmental and energy policy from Michigan Tech University. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening and spending time with her three children.