The Alison Haskell Award

The award is presented annually by Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) in memory of Alison Haskell (1956 – 2006) to recognize an individual in North America who exemplifies extraordinary commitment to herpetofaunal conservation, as did Alison.

PARC Visionary Leader Award

In 2011, PARC initiated the Visionary Leader Award. This award recognizes an individual in North America who exemplifies extraordinary leadership, vision, and commitment, specifically to PARC, in a manner that has carried PARC to new heights and has significantly forwarded the PARC mission.

2025 PARC Visionary Leader Award

Molly Bletz

Molly’s accomplishments have helped raise PARC and herpetofaunal conservation to new heights, and we are proud to recognize these achievements through the 2025 PARC Visionary Leader Award.

Molly is deeply involved with Northeast PARC’s Emerging Disease Working Group. She has been instrumental in producing PARC resources, like PARC’s Disinfection Guidelines. Molly also works extensively on Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), including co-chairing the North American Bsal Task Force’s Technical Advisory Committee. Molly has also contributed substantially to PARC’s Amphibian Week campaign.

Through the Bsal Task Force Technical Advisory Committee, Molly builds coordination between PARC teams and other entities to further Bsal surveillance efforts. She brings proactive Bsal and disease awareness to the PARC network through presentations, leading workshops, and hosting listening sessions. This is evident through popular publications including “Amping Up Biosecurity for Herps”, which was published in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of The Wildlife Professional.

Molly has gone above-and-beyond for Amphibian Week. Not only has Molly created several outreach materials and led an amphibian art team, Molly served as an in-person panelist at the 2024 Amphibian Week film screening of Wild Hope in Washington D.C.!

Molly’s efforts – a collaborative blend of applied research, knowledge-sharing, and drive – not only prepare biologists for addressing emerging diseases, they also help inspire her peers while propelling PARC’s mission to conserve amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats. Congrats Molly!

2025 Alison Haswell Award Winner

Erin Muths

We at PARC are pleased to announce Dr. Erin Muths as the 2025 recipient of the Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation! Please help us celebrate this achievement in herp conservation!

PARC’s Alison Haskell Award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies extraordinary commitment to herpetofaunal conservation. Erin has exceeded this criteria through her work with PARC’s Disease Task Team, participation in PARC’s Amphibian Week campaign, and her diligent work within the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), where she supports management, conservation, and recovery decisions for amphibians across the Rocky Mountains and beyond.

Through her work with USGS, Erin makes and supports important connections nationally, regionally, and locally, focused on applied science. This information is useful for management and decision-making for multiple partners. Her field research initiatives help management agencies develop and implement science-based solutions that benefits amphibian conservation. Erin’s dedication is apparent through her 145+ peer-reviewed publications and many book chapters.

Outside the Rocky Mountain region, Erin helped showcase the USGS and ARMI mission during Amphibian Week 2024 in Washington D.C. Erin organized and prepared events at the Smithsonian National Zoo, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Mall. Erin has also interacted with other D.C. institutions, including providing briefings on amphibian research and conservation to members of the U.S. Congress and other national-level managers and policy managers.

Erin’s drive for amphibian conservation is extraordinary, and embodies the spirit of the Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation. Congrats Erin