Monica Glass Thornton

Executive Director @The Nature Conservancy

GA, US

As Executive Director, Monica Thornton leads a team of dedicated and passionate staff and scientists working to protect, manage and restore Georgia’s unique natural areas. As a 7th generation Georgian, Monica’s passion for the environment began as a child. With relatives all over the state, she was exposed to Georgia’s diverse ecology early. Her passion met her experience when she took on leadership roles at the Piedmont Park Conservancy and later at the Georgia Conservancy where she led teams that raised tens of millions of dollars for greenspace and conservation projects, including the historic 53-acre expansion of Piedmont Park. She also led communications efforts that were instrumental in conservation wins for Georgia, including the infamous interstate water wars litigation and the passage of GOSA. Before joining The Nature Conservancy, Monica was Director of Association Advancement at the Georgia Municipal Association. Before that, she was a Senior Advancement Officer at the CDC Foundation, where she managed its global portfolio and led new initiatives to examine health equity, gun violence and climate change policy. Monica also held the role of Executive Director with Women In Technology (WIT) and leadership positions at United Way of Metro Atlanta, Fox 5 Atlanta, CBS Atlanta, WSB-TV and Georgia Public Broadcasting.Monica is very involved in the community and serves on several boards, including the advisory board of Earth Share Georgia, the International Women’s Think Tank and as a founding board member of Ventures Atlanta. She regularly volunteers as on-air talent for GPB during local and national PBS telethons.Monica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University in TV/Film and an Associate degree in Marketing. She is a 2017 graduate of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership and when she isn\'t exploring the outdoors, she keeps busy with renovation projects, writing or doing her number one job as a mom to three adult sons.

Clark Atlanta University

Mass Communication/Media Studies

Georgia State University

Bachelor of Arts (BA)