People & Partners

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Karen Looby
CEO

Dr. Karen Looby is CEO of Wild Spirit Wild Places®, a
non-profit dedicated to protecting Texas’ diminishing ranches and rangelands through education, research, and conservation practices. Karen has over 30 years of experience in public education as an elementary school teacher, administrator, professional learning facilitator, researcher, and program evaluator. This  expertise puts her in a unique position to help fulfill Wild Spirit Wild Place’s mission of educating the public on the importance of Texas’ ranch lands, facilitating studies to advance land stewardship practices, and encouraging the practice of sustainability and conservationism. 

A native Texan with historic generational roots, Karen grew up fully versed in Texas lore and with an appetite to explore its wide open spaces. Karen lives in Austin with her husband (also a homegrown Texan) and enjoys spending time with family, spoiling her German Shepherds, training her horses, and traveling.

Wild Spirit Wild Places® was welcomed into Texan by Nature’s Conservation partner network in 2022. Texan by Nature (TxN), founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, partners deeply with conservation groups and business, acting as an accelerator for conservation groups and a strategic partner for business. Texan by Nature connects the brightest minds and projects with the strongest resources and funding to make the biggest impact for Texans, our economy, and our natural world. Get involved and learn more at www.texanbynature.org.