Patricia Stocking
Land Protection Specialist
The Nature Conservancy

Trish Stocking grew up in a small town in northeastern Connecticut.  As a child, she wandered freely in the woods; catching toads, looking for salamanders and enjoying being in the outdoors. While a botany student at Connecticut College, Trish spent a summer conducting botanical surveys on Nature Conservancy preserves in New Hampshire and Connecticut. She went on to receive a B.A. from the University of California-San Diego and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over the years, she has worked with several environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club.

In 1983, Trish interrupted her professional career to spend ten years sailing and traveling with her husband, Jonathan Ela.  After their return to Madison, she decided she wanted to work for The Nature Conservancy once again. Since then, Trish has worked on land acquisition for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) throughout the state of Wisconsin, and is currently responsible for transferring TNC preserves that would more appropriately be owned by another organization or agency. She also serves on the Board of Gathering Waters Conservancy and is committed to fostering the growth and health of Wisconsin’s land trust community.

One of Trish’s favorite places is the family cottage in Door County.  She is an avid gardener and birder and is passionate about introducing her grandsons to the joys of the natural world.

Back to Wisconsin Women Forward for Environmental Education page