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Photo by Liliana from George MS

Jennifer Starkey

Jennifer has been the Education Director since 2016. A child of the west hills, Jennifer benefited from PPS's class and race inequities and in 1996 had no idea the Slough flooded. She scored highly on a national spanish language standardized test and spent her late adolescence doing a photography thesis on garbage. After working with MESD Outdoor School, Jennifer completed a social justice focused teaching program at Lewis & Clark. She has also picked up diapers and glitter at Oxbow park, made coffee at an off brand starbucks within a Kaiser, worked holiday phone retail, and wiped many surfaces. In her spare time, Jennifer is extremely online and will never learn to drive standard transmission.

Bring three objects on your Slough adventure, what are they? - Crocs, gloves, pruners 

Favorite memory with Columbia Slough Watershed Council? Right before major summer events when Kirk would be softly playing "Unwell" by Matchbox 20, or this moment.

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Maya Hurst-Mayr

Maya has lived in the Pacific Northwest her entire life and is passionate about protecting the natural environment. A Seattlite at heart, she has a deep appreciation for good coffee and rain. Maya worked as a sustainability intern, and realizing she wanted to take her environmental skills further, she went back to school to earn her Master’s in Environmental Science and Management at Portland State University (PSU). Maya completed a research project on potential microplastic management in Oregon. She also worked at One Green World Plant Nursery and discovered the world of fruiting plants and horticulture. After earning her degree, she worked in watershed advocacy and found her passion for justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. At the Columbia Slough, she raises funds for the Council. In her free-time, Maya enjoys running, hanging out with her dog, Nala, and knitting.

Favorite things about the Slough: Freshwater mussels, frogs, and turtles!

If not by the Slough, you’ll find me: Running or drinking coffee!

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Amanda Gallegos

Amanda joined the Columbia Slough team in 2022 and now serves as Executive Director. She holds a BS in Environmental Studies, and a Project Management Certificate from Portland State University, and has spent much of her career leading community-focused events, including multi-day paddling trips, trash cleanups, community paddles, film screenings, bird walks, and group bike rides.

As a leader, Amanda envisions a future where the Columbia Slough thrives as a vital natural corridor—supporting ecological health, clean water, and equitable access for all who live, work, and recreate within the watershed. Rooted in transparency, inclusivity, and shared purpose, she strives to strengthen the connection between people and place through meaningful engagement of diverse perspectives, empowering staff, volunteers, and community partners to steward a healthier, more resilient future for all communities.

Outside of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Amanda is actively engaged with SE Portland based nonprofit, Green Lents. On a random day off, you can likely find her on her bike, reading a book, paddling, or exploring new food in Portland—often with her pups, Nimbus and Beamer, in tow.

Favorite way to explore the Slough: Quiet mornings in a canoe

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Liz Coll

Liz Coll joined the Columbia Slough Watershed Council in 2021 as an intern with PGE’s Project Zero Green Jobs internship program. Today, they continue to work for the slough as the Volunteer and Program Coordinator. Liz loves to spend their time outdoors observing the beauty of nature. They also are inspired by nature and are passionate about learning the local native plants, as well as teaching about the local native plants. In 2023 received their Associates of Arts Transfer degree from PCC, focusing on environmental studies. 

If you could be any creature or plant for the day, what would you be? A Stump Town Scud

Best word that describes the Slough? Abundant

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Cedrion Gloria

Cedrion was born and raised in the heat of Arizona. Since early childhood, he has been rooted in supporting various community projects. Those efforts looked like volunteering with his grandmother's organization, supporting food banks, highway cleanups, and mentoring youth. With a desire to curate a lifestyle and career involving the lush outdoors, Cedrion relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2015.

Through retailer’s corporate community impact programs, Ced found himself passionately volunteering and leading group participation with Portland local organizations. Recognizing the positive impact these events have on relationships and the community, Ced felt empowered to pursue the path and build it into a career. With development, Ced moved on to manage non-profit partnerships, volunteerism, philanthropy practices, planning various event styles, trade shows, and other community collaborations.

Ced’s passions involve creating belonging by inclusive activations, providing impactful experiences, fostering community, sharing knowledge, and having fun!

Outside of work, you can find him spending time with his family, riding bikes, gardening, or simply doing whatever feels good in the moment. Exploring new hobbies and experiences is always a plus for Ced

Contact Ced

 

Starme Sonsy

My name is Starmeana Sonsy! I go by Starme for short and my pronouns are She/Her. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and I am a high school student here in Fairview county. Some of my interests outside of school include being outside, hiking, gardening, and just enjoying the wind in my hair. One of my biggest interests in working with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council is gaining leadership skills, meeting new people, and learning new things about nature. I am also very detail oriented and I love to help people. Anytime you are in need of assistance, I'll be right there to help before you even ask!

Clatyon Zamora

My name is Clayton Zamora, and my pronouns are he/him/his people can call me Clay. I have lived in Portland since 2016. I am a 2026 graduate. I graduated from Reynolds Learning Academy and while attending RLA I joined a program called Multnomah Youth Cooperative (MYC) and a year of doing that I landed an internship here with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. Outside of work I am most likely working with my hands and getting them dirty with painting, drawing, sculpting, building, and gardening or any yard work as long as I can get my hands dirty you’ll never hear me complain about the work. During my time here as an intern I’m hoping I learn how to be a leader more and how to take on the leadership role in a way where I can shift between different types of leaders so everyone can be on the same page and so every one can have a clear understanding of what’s going on even if they take on instructions differently it’s would be nice for them to know they’ll still get the information every one else got. If I’m not working by the slough you can most likely find me swimming on hot days or outside in the yard working or you might even find me sitting in a field painting. Fun fact about me is I’m a clean freak I like things organized cause I believe it can really improve work ethics and performances.

Rinahda Dodd

Rinahda Dodd is a seasonal intern at Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC) through the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Program’s Roots of Change outdoor training internship (POIC ROC: formerly PGE’s Project Zero Green Jobs internship program). He grew up in the humidity of the Deep South and moved frequently in his time in the Bible Belt. In 2020, he moved to Oregon. His pattern of moving didn’t end once he found himself in the Pacific Northwest. During his time in Oregon, he fell in love with the wide range of landscapes offered in the environmentally diverse state. After being exposed to so many unique ecoregions and experiencing the vast biodiversity of both the Deep South and Pacific Northwest, he developed a passion for environmental protection.

Before Columbia Slough, Rinahda worked with various nonprofit agencies centered around Oregon foster youth. Now, he hopes that his work here with CSWCl will further develop his skills in leadership, community outreach, and event organizing. He is strong in his belief that his time at CSWC will push him to be a better advocate and leader in all of his environmental and foster advocacy endeavors.

When Rinahda isn’t working at the slough, he spends his time writing poetry, hanging out with his friends, and going on long walks around Portland. Or, of course, pointing out every local plant he recognizes to his exasperated friends.