NRCS Ohio | Pollinator.org

Pollinator Partnership and NRCS Ohio

Sophia Sorboro, NRCS Partner Biologist Ohio

Sophia graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Environmental and Conservation Biology and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. After graduating college, Sophia completed two conservation-focused years of service with AmeriCorps and then worked as a Watershed Coordinator for a Soil Water Conservation District. Through these roles, Sophia provided technical assistance, conservation planning support, and environmental education and outreach to urban and rural communities across Summit, Tuscarawas, and Columbiana counties. As a beginning farmer herself, she understands the importance of balancing ecology with agriculture, and has experienced first-hand how pollinator habitat can help to improve soil, water, and wildlife conservation within workinglands. As Pollinator Partnership’s Ohio Partner Biologist, Sophia assists traditional, small, specialty, urban, and other producers across eastern Ohio with establishing pollinator friendly habitat by providing Farm Bill application and conservation planning support. She is also documenting wildlife habitat success stories and creating educational content to interpret and promote conservation practices that benefit pollinators and other wildlife. In her free time, Sophia enjoys gardening, trying to train her goats, and visiting bogs.

Isabel Nazarian, NRCS Partner Biologist Midwest Region

Growing up in rural Ohio, Isabel developed an early love for native plants and local ecosystems. She assisted in her first restoration project at the age of 15 and volunteered at nearby park districts. She graduated from Ohio State's School of Environment and Natural Resources specializing in environmental science and ecosystem restoration. Isabel spent years in honey bee research, caring for over 100 hives around Ohio while conducting research on pesticides and analyzing CRP. She has also worked in ecosystem restoration, helping to execute WRP and other contracted plans through vegetation management, seed selection and seeding, erosion control, tree planting and more. With Pollinator Partnership, she is here to help landowners access all the resources they need to implement pollinator conservation on their land. Isabel is based in central Ohio and offers assistance to the Midwestern region. Contact her for assistance navigating NRCS programs, locating monetary and educational resources, questions about site preparation, species suggestions, best management practices, planning assistance or if you aren’t sure where to start! Isabel will also be putting together trainings, workshops, and outreach events for producers to better understand how they can incorporate pollinator habitat on their land while reaching their goals.

Help us reach our goal to enhance, create, and restore native habitats to support monarchs and other pollinators in Ohio!