LINCOLN, MA-Mass Audubon has appointed Becky Cushing to succeed René Laubach as Berkshire Sanctuaries Director. She will oversee Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox, as well as Canoe Meadows and Lime Kiln wildlife sanctuaries in Pittsfield and Sheffield, respectively.

Cushing, 30, worked previously for Mass Audubon on Cape Cod and the South Coast, and returns to the respected conservation organization after working for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Vermont since 2013. On May 20, she will move into the position overseen for 29 years by Laubach, who retires at the end of this month.

The new sanctuaries director earned a degree in Environmental Studies/Conservation Biology fromMiddlebury College in 2007, while working during her undergraduate summers for Mass Audubon'sCoastal Waterbird Program and at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Those positions harkened back to her earliest connections to nature, Cushing recalled, "when I would visit my grandparents' home on the Cape, watching shorebirds and paddling through salt marshes."

Upon graduation, Cushing worked at Mass Audubon's South Coast Sanctuaries, serving in management capacities at Allens Pond in Dartmouth and Great Neck in Wareham.

In 2011, she enrolled in the Field Naturalist Program at the University of Vermont, from which she earned an M.S. degree in 2013. Since last year, she has worked for TNC's Vermont Chapter in land stewardship and volunteer coordination.

Gail Yeo, Mass Audubon Regional Director for Central and Western Massachusetts, hailed the appointment of Cushing.

"We are excited to have Becky coming on board," Yeo said. "Becky's passion for the landscape and her ability to create a welcoming environment for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with the land-along with her deep scientific understanding of ecological processes-is just what we need to build on René Laubach's lasting legacy.

"This is an ideal next step for Mass Audubon to continue our important work throughout the Berkshires," Yeo added.

Cushing said accepting the Berkshire director's position will mean a homecoming of sorts, not only because she worked previously for Mass Audubon, but also because she grew up in Saratoga Springs, NY, about 90 minutes northwest of her office at Pleasant Valley.

"I'm really excited to be returning to Mass Audubon, especially in the Berkshires with its rich landscapes, large tracts of forest, and, from a personal standpoint, living where you can hike and otherwise enjoy the outdoors so easily," Cushing said.

"And I hope to do that alongside so many other people who love this area as much as I do," she added. "I look forward to joining the sanctuary team; new and seasoned staff who can provide a variety of perspectives. I just know I'm going to be in a really great place."

Mass Audubon works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Together with more than 100,000 members, we care for 35,000 acres of conservation land, provide school, camp, and other educational programs for 225,000 children and adults annually, and advocate for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels. Founded in 1896 by two inspirational women who were committed to the protection of birds, Mass Audubon has grown to become a powerful force for conservation in New England. Today we are respected for our sound science, successful advocacy, and innovative approaches to connecting people and nature. Each year, our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries welcomes nearly half a million visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds and serves as the base for our work. To support these important efforts, call 800-AUDUBON (800-283-8266) or visit www.massaudubon.org.