Lisa Van Alstyne grew up in a small community on the banks of the Hudson River in Upstate New York. She had a flourishing career with the NYS Department of Health and then with the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation. In these agencies, she managed programs to deliver education, conservation funding and support, and public health initiatives. Working with government agencies on all levels (from small municipalities to Federal agencies), industry associations, businesses, special interest groups, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and the public, Lisa developed relationships, partnerships, and communities of practice to support the various efforts she was engaged with.

Lisa joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2009, developing and improving policy for the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (now known as the Office of Conservation Investment). Her work included significant engagement with internal and external partners and with employee growth initiatives. Lisa retired from the Service as an employee in December 2022 and continued as a part-time consultant through the Experienced Services Program through March 2025.

Lisa completed the Academy’s Managing by Network curriculum in 2018, presenting a case study on Federal financial assistance and earning an Honors Certificate. She graduated from the Academy’s Collaborative Conservation: Partnerships in Practice in 2019, an advanced-level course that builds on the foundational skills taught in MbN. The work of the Partnership Academy so inspired her that she reached out asking if she could continue working with the team, and she relishes her engagement as a facilitator/instructor.

In addition to working with the Academy following Federal retirement, Lisa is also completing the training/testing for her real estate sales license, seeking clients to apply writing skills honed through training with the American Writers and Artists Institute, and working on a novel here and there until she can dedicate bigger hunks of time to it. Always keep learning and growing!

Lisa currently lives in Hilton, NY. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, yoga, gardening, reading, writing, home DIY, being a dog and cat Mom, and especially being Grammy to her four grandsons. She looks forward to getting to know the MbN Class of 2026 and together, growing our partnership skills, opportunities, and outcomes!