Meet Lorna Wright, our new Executive Director

Lorna Wright has been named Executive Director of Genesee Land Trust after a national search.

“I came to Rochester for school and stayed because I love the snow, the vibrant farm community, and the appreciation for Lake Ontario and clean water. I’m grateful to work with a great team of people, including hundreds of volunteers each year, to do work that helps community members - young and old, from the city to the countryside - enjoy nature close to home.” - Lorna Wright

Lorna’s love for nature began as a child watching ducks with her dad on the shore of Lake Michigan. She grew up in a wide range of environments – from busy cities to quiet rural farms – and always found comfort outside, especially hiking in the woods.

Lorna - who served as Acting Executive Director after Gay Mills retired in Feb. 2023 - lives in Rochester with her husband, Lap Chung, and their 5-year-old twins Quinn and Zoe.

Lorna’s experience:

Lorna joined Genesee Land Trust in 2013 as Director of Conservation Programs and became Deputy Executive Director in 2019. As Deputy Executive Director, she oversaw the growth of farmland protection work to support local farmers like Gerlock Bros. Farm in Farmington. Since Lorna joined the land trust we have secured 18 farmland grants on behalf of local farm families worth $15.5 Million to protect more than 2,200 acres of farmland.

Lorna worked closely with Gay Mills, our prior executive director, and land trust staff to support the creation of some of the region’s most beloved public conservation areas, including Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville, Irene Gossin Nature Preserve in Penfield, Macyville Woods in Sodus Point, and Salmon Creek Nature Preserve in Hilton.

Before Genesee Land Trust, Lorna served as Tug Hill Project Director for The Nature Conservancy where she managed a large forest preserve. Lorna earned a BA in Biology from the University of Rochester, and dual Masters degrees in Environmental Management and Forestry from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. During her time at Duke, Lorna lead a class on land conservation skills and developed a management plan for Duke Forest focusing on invasive plants.

Lorna’s favorite zucchini recipe is a curry dish: Red Lentils with Zucchini