Robin Kemkes Graduate Research Assistant, Masters Program Relationship with MIMES: Participant in workgroup 6 (Ecosystem Services Websites), Contact: 617 Main Street, Burlington VT, 05446 Phone: 802-656-2906

Robin is working toward a Master's in Community Development and Applied Economics and a certificate in Ecological Economics. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Art and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also has a strong post-college courseload in economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. Her research interests are valuation of ecosystem services, payments for ecosystem services, measurements of well-being and progress, and the effects of globalization on the environment.

Before studying economics she used her design skills as a tool to communicate environmental information. At a consulting agency she worked with scientists and engineers to develop reports on remediation for clients such as Shell Oil, Chevron, the US Park Service, and the USDOD. While employed at a dot-com environmental community, she collaborated with a team of specialists to create online programs for activists. She also coordinated and produced fact sheets on water quality for the USGS.

Over the summer of 2005 she was a Government Relations intern at the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy where she evaluated the effectiveness of Farm Bill Conservation programs in Georgia and made recommendations for promoting higher participation. She also researched tax credit for conservation easement programs in several states and helped put together an outline for a similar program in Georgia.

Robin lives in Burlington, VT with her husband, Las, and her dog, Lena.