The Council
Kentucky Heartwood currently supports four staff for a total of three full-time equivalents and is governed by the Kentucky Heartwood Council. The Council includes our most active volunteers and serves as our board of directors.
Xyara Asplen
Julian Campbell
Gretchen Collins
Dave Cooper
Stephen Dorsett
Patty Draus
Elijah Hicks
Chris Schimmoeller
Ted Withrow
Xyara Asplen
Coming soon!
Julian Campbell
Julian Campbell has an initial degree from the University of Cambridge (in England), a masters from the University College of North Wales, and a doctorate from the University of Kentucky (in 1980). During 1987-2006, he worked for The Nature Conservancy, with much biological inventory on Daniel Boone National Forest and other federal lands in Kentucky. Since 1986, he has been working on the Atlas of Vascular Plants in Kentucky, in association with the intensive collection and bibliographic work of M.E. Medley, and with initial financial support from East Kentucky Power. The Atlas is now a website established in partnership with Judy Redden (carexmisera.com/KyPlantAtlas/).
He has been working on Elymus (wild rye species with paired spikelets) since 1989, culminating in the treatment for Flora of North America. Since 2001, he has also been focusing on selected problems in Fraxinus, Monarda, Rudbeckia, Helianthus and Solidago. He has accumulated over 100 clones of cane (Arundinaria gigantea) at the Griffith Farm in Harrison Co., Kentucky.
Johanna Delgado Acevedo, Executive Director
Johanna Delgado Acevedo is a Puerto Rican native and ecologist. Previously, she was an Associate Professor at East Texas A&M University, specializing in Wildlife Science and Conservation. She earned her Ph.D. in Wildlife Sciences from Texas A&M University - Kingsville, where she utilized molecular markers to investigate wild pig population structure in Texas. Additionally, her master's focused on the effects of habitat quality on the morphology of Puerto Rican amphibians, emphasizing environmentally induced phenotypic changes.
Her professional journey includes serving as the Director of the Botanical Garden of the University of Puerto Rico, Visiting Assistant Professor at Sul Ross State University, and Research Coordinator for a collaboration agreement between the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and Casa Pueblo (www.casapueblo.org), a grassroots organization. Johanna has held leadership roles in academia, nonprofit organizations, and community-based initiatives, including her long-standing involvement with Casa Pueblo. She has been a loyal volunteer for Casa Pueblo for over 30 years.
Her work continues to focus on inclusive environmental solutions, bridging science and advocacy to foster sustainable, community-driven conservation efforts.
Amethyst Muncy, Attorney
Amethyst Muncy is a proud Appalachian from Eastern Kentucky. She graduated summa cum laude from Morehead State University, where she earned her B.A. in legal studies while minoring in Spanish. She then attended law school at the University of Alabama School of Law, where she found her love for environmental law through internships with organizations such as Southern Environmental Law Center and Coosa Riverkeeper, serving as President of UA Law’s Environmental Law Society, and competing in the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition.
Amethyst is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and the state of Kentucky. Before joining Kentucky Heartwood, Amethyst worked as a staff attorney, focusing on environmental justice issues at Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center.
In addition to her passion for environmental advocacy, Amethyst enjoys reading thriller novels, exploring the outdoors with her family and partner, and trying out new plant-based recipes. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jim Scheff, Ecologist
Jim Scheff worked as the Director of Kentucky Heartwood from 2008 through 2020, transiting to his new role as Staff Ecologist in October, 2020. Before moving to Kentucky, Jim was active in national forest protection efforts on the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri from 2000 through 2008, and has been involved with several regional and national forest protection groups.
Jim earned his B.S. in Biology from Webster University in St. Louis, M.A. in Environmental Science from Washington University in St. Louis, and M.S. in Biology and Applied Ecology from Eastern Kentucky University. The subject of Jim's graduate research at EKU was an investigation into the development of old-growth forest characteristics in second-growth forests in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
When not actively working to protect our public lands and wild places, Jim prefers to spend his time outside removing invasive species, hiking, or climbing various trees, rocks, and mountains. Jim lives in Berea.
Whitney Hamblin, Membership Director
Whitney Hamblin is an artist and graphic designer with a passion for visual messaging and meaningful design. Whitney was born and raised in central Indiana where she later graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Visual Communications.
In 2021, Whitney transplanted to Estill County Kentucky to break ground on her farm. She founded Holler Home Flower Farm, where she grows florals for everyday moments and special events. Whitney worked as a custom wedding florist for many years, but knew her real passion was making things grow. Catch her at the Red River Gorge Farmers Market - May through October every Saturday 10-2!
Her accomplishments include a 2,189 mile Northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2016, walking from Georgia to Maine through 14 states. Whitney also survived 21-days in the Brazilian Rain Forest on season 10 of Discovery Channel's Naked & Afraid. In her free time, Whitney loves to hike, forage, and play in the creek hunting arrowheads and agates. She is also a firm supporter of eating dessert first.