Ebey’s Landing Trust Board appoints reserve manager

Published 1:30 am Friday, March 27, 2026

Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve found its new leader in a Trust Board member.

Friday, the Trust Board announced the appointment of Alix Roos to the position of reserve manager, concluding a nationwide hiring search which began in September. A task force seriously considered six of the 40 applications it received, according to Spencer Johnson, the board’s chair.

Roos said in a statement that she is “honored” to have been selected.

“This place is a powerful example of what is possible through partnership,” she said. “I look forward to working alongside our partners, stakeholders and community members to ensure the long-term stewardship and vitality of this remarkable landscape as we implement the Trust Board’s mission.”

Beyond serving as an ambassador of the reserve and working with the board, Johnson said day-to-day the reserve manager is responsible for overseeing operations and finances, maintaining relationships with partners and more.

Finding the right reserve manager is important, he explained, because the role is the product of a shift to a “new, one-staff structure” made necessary by “tighter resources and a leaner way of operating.” According to a previous News-Times story, the reserve manager is now an Island County employee, although they still work for and are funded by the Trust Board.

“This role anchors the Trust Board’s capacity to deliver on its mission — providing steady leadership through change, drawing together partners and community voices and helping us navigate budget realities without losing sight of preservation and public access,” Johnson said.

Hailing from a long line of farmers on Whidbey with a farm of her own in the reserve makes Roos crucially familiar with the reserve’s working landscape and community, a release details. A stint as the executive director of Friends of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, a master’s in education from Goddard College in Vermont and a certificate of nonprofit management from the University of Washington gives her relevant experience.

Roos served as a volunteer Trust Board member for two years before her appointment.

Johnson said he expects Roos to “lead with both head and heart,” and has come to know her as a “collaborative, relationship-driven leader” as well as a creative problem-solver. He characterized Roos’ hiring as a “decisive step” in the board’s ongoing restructuring.

“Next up, we’re focused on building the partnerships and financial resilience that Ebey’s Reserve needs for the future, especially as we will be celebrating the Reserve’s 50th anniversary in 2028,” he added.

Roos’ appointment leaves a second vacancy on the Trust Board, both of which are appointed by the Town of Coupeville. Qualified and interested applicants should reach out to Mayor Molly Hughes at mayor@townofcoupeville.org.