ROLLA, Mo. — Dawn Laybolt has joined Mark Twain National Forest as the new forest supervisor. Dawn comes to Missouri from the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin, where she served as the deputy forest supervisor.
“I am honored to have this opportunity, and I intend to engage the public as we continue to work collaboratively on the important land restoration activities on Mark Twain National Forest,” said Dawn.
She brings a diverse background to this leadership role. Dawn started her Forest Service career as an archeological technician on the Nebraska National Forest prior to becoming a permanent employee. Since then, she has gained experience as a heritage program manager, tribal liaison, staff officer, district ranger, and acting forest supervisor. She also possesses previous experience as a veterinary technician, cultural resource management contractor, and Tribal Consortium employee.
Dawn looks forward to fostering the strong connections that the Forest has with its partners and surrounding communities, and to being inclusive when reaching out to the public for their ideas concerning Forest management.
“I believe partnerships are vital to accomplishing good restoration work; and I am always looking to strengthen the ones we already have and keep my eyes open for opportunities to grow new ones,” said Dawn.
Dawn has settled into Rolla with her dogs and has started exploring the area. She enjoys getting outdoors—especially hiking, running, and mountain biking.
To contact Mark Twain National Forest, call the Supervisor’s Office at 573-364-4621 (M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). Learn more about the Forest online at fs.usda.gov/mtnf, and stay updated on social media at facebook.com/marktwainnationalforest or twitter.com/marktwain_nf.