About

Jill Douglass brings a lifelong passion for science, stewardship, and community engagement to protecting local natural spaces. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a PhD in Oceanography, providing a strong scientific foundation for understanding ecosystems and environmental change.

Professionally, she works as a software development manager, where she applies analytical thinking, collaboration, and leadership to complex projects. In addition to her role with the Conservancy, she has a long history of volunteer service, including involvement with Scouts BSA and parent-teacher organizations at her children’s schools.

Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys spending time outdoors backpacking and hiking, cultivating plants through gardening, and contributing observations to iNaturalist. These activities reinforce her commitment to conservation, education, and fostering a deeper connection between the community and the natural world.

Natasia Moore received her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management and a Master’s degree in Wildlife, Aquatics, and Wildland Science and Management from Texas Tech University. She is currently an Urban Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, where she performs professional planning, management, research and public outreach associated with wildlife, habitat and natural resource management specific to the Greater Austin area. Natasia is also the TPWD coordinator for the Bird City Texas program. Her research interests include ecological effects of urban development, specifically as it relates to raptors and other avian species.

Bio coming soon

Rebecca Benz has lived in central Texas since 1972 and years ago began visiting Wells Branch in the spring to experience its magnificent spring bird migrations.  She and her husband became permanent residents of Wells Branch in 2022 and are now happy to bird here year-round.

Now retired, Rebecca is the former Executive Director of Camp Fire Central Texas and Principal and Associate Superintendent of one of the first Charter High Schools in the state of Texas.  She is a founding member of the Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin, a former Board member of the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, and recipient of the Camp Fire National Executive Leadership Award.

Rebecca is pleased to be a founding board member of Wells Branch Wild Conservancy and is dedicated to building and strengthening the nonprofit for future generations of residents to cherish the natural outdoors.

Paul Flugel has been an Austin resident since 1963, growing up in the Travis Heights neighborhood near Stacy Pool and Blunn Creek. It was there that he developed a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. His favorite activities include swimming at Barton Springs, kayaking, biking, hiking, and walking Austin’s many park trails with his dog—especially those in Wells Branch, where he and his wife, Rene, have lived for 19 years.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is retired after a 45-year career in land surveying, half of which was spent leading field survey crews conducting topographic and tree surveys throughout the Austin area. He is a licensed professional surveyor in both Texas and Virginia.

Around 2010, Paul joined the Wells Branch MUD Trees for Trails Committee, where he helped design the layout for many of the trees planted along the trail system that residents enjoy today. That work helped establish the foundation for the continued tree and shrub plantings and park beautification efforts that followed.

Paul is excited to serve on the committee and looks forward to helping maintain and enhance Wells Branch’s parklands, trails, trees, vegetation, and wildlife through environmentally responsible and practical stewardship.

Ada Forbes is proud to call herself a lifelong Austinite and considers herself fortunate to have grown up in the Wells Branch neighborhood. She spent her earliest years exploring Wells Branch’s parks, creeks, and trails—places she now recognizes as exceptional for their quality, breadth, and sense of community.

After pursuing a professional career in fundraising to support the advocacy, restoration, and improvement of Shoal Creek and the Shoal Creek Trail in the neighboring Shoal Creek watershed, Ada is excited to bring her experience and passion to Wells Branch Wild.

Stefan G. is an electrical engineer who has been a resident of Wells Branch since 2017. As an avid gardener and advocate for native habitats, his primary interests are sustainability and conservation.

Stefan is dedicated to strengthening community connections by creating spaces where neighbors can come together in harmony with nature. He finds joy in continually discovering new aspects of the local environment and is committed to helping others develop that same sense of curiosity, appreciation, and stewardship for the natural world.

Audry became a board member in 2025 and she loves working to have an impact on nature in her local community. She is also a Texas Master Naturalist, so she brings a lot of knowledge about our local Texas landscapes and enjoys sharing it with anyone who wants to learn. Her day job is as a veterinarian, where she helps dogs and cats, as well as volunteers with Austin Bat Refuge to provide care to Austin’s bat population. When she is not out in nature, she can be found reading, playing soccer, riding horses, or hanging out with her husband and pets (four cats, one dog, and a tortoise). Her favorite Texas wild animal is either an American Kestrel or Ringtail Cat.

Matthew grew up hiking and exploring nature from north central Texas through the hill country. He loves all facets of the natural world, especially how the different parts of the environment interact. Matthew has a PhD in chemistry from the University of Texas and is a recent Texas Master Naturalist and is proud to help bring more wildlife to Wells Branch. 

Angela grew up in Virginia, lived in Germany for 17 years, and moved to Wells Branch in 1999. She retired in March 2020 from the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she served supporting the computer infrastructure.

Angela enjoys being outdoors. The park system throughout Wells Branch is one of her favorite things about Wells Branch; she has appreciated all the improvements made to it over the last 15 years. Since retiring, she has utilized the parks daily, as well as fostered her interest and curiosity in how to preserve our local environment. She has modified her yard and registered it as a Natural Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation, and she has worked with Austin Water on creating a backyard that qualifies as Water Wise. She joined the Wells Branch Wild Conservancy to align her interest with further action and advocacy in her community.

Bio coming soon

William “Buddy” Steele was born and raised in Dallas and attended public schools. He went to college at Brown University and returned to Dallas in 1972, where taught 5th grade history for 3 years. At the urging of his older sister Molly, Buddy went to law school. After graduating, he clerked for Barefoot Sanders, a federal judge in Dallas. After his clerkship, Buddy worked as a trial lawyer at a law firm in Dallas. In 1996, his firm opened an Austin office, and he was asked to move there to practice law. Buddy jumped at the chance. He retired from the practice of law in 2017.

With his wife Margaret (“Maggie”), Buddy has 2 grown sons, who also live in Austin. Their family loves the outdoors and their vacations together are almost always to a beautiful seashore or mountainous getaway. Buddy counts himself a very lucky guy to have such a great family who love getting outdoors, hiking, swimming, and having fun.

Neil moved to Wells Branch in 2020 with his wife, Judy, and their Shiba Inu, Hiroki (aka Hiro), to be closer to their older son and his family.

Neil’s educational and professional background is in geology. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College, a Master of Science from Arizona State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

His first “real” summer job was as a ranger-naturalist at Crater Lake National Park. From 1975 to 1980, he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey in California and Arizona. For most of his career, he worked for the Oklahoma Geological Survey, conducting research and providing public service with a primary emphasis on geologic mapping. In addition, he served as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma.

Neil has led geology field trips for a wide range of audiences, including Cub Scouts, graduate students, and professional geologists.

Neil believes the two greatest benefits of living in Wells Branch are its neighborhoods and its greenbelt. It is his hope that the Wells Branch Community Association (WBWC) will continue to improve and preserve both for future generations.

Bio coming soon

Linda Welsh, Ph.D. is a former consultant in early childhood and higher education. Linda’s roles include Dean of Graduate Students and Academic Support at National American University; a faculty member and Child Development Chair at the Austin Community College District; and the first Early Childhood Coordinator for the City of Austin, Texas, where she facilitated community-wide planning and program development for the early childhood system of Austin.

Linda resides in Wells Branch on the greenbelt behind Katherine Fleischer Park. She has two wonderful sons and five grandchildren ages 7 to 17. Linda serves in leadership positions for the Texas and Austin AAUW (American Association of University Women).

Linda loves the beauty of our outdoor environment and is proud to serve as a founding board member of the Wells Branch Wild Conservancy. Her priority is connecting children and families to the beauties and benefits of nature.

Diana Wheeler has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Yale with a concentration in environmental education. Since being in Austin she has worked in IT but her passion remains working on programs that facilitate environmental protection. She currently works for Austin Energy as an IT Manager. Diana was on the Board of Camp Fire Central Texas from 2004-2020, on the Allendale Neighborhood Association (ANA) Board from 2016-2021, and she currently serves on the City’s Joint Sustainability Committee.