Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) is proud to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors. Michelle Nowlin, John Narron, and Dr. Zakiya Leggett bring a wealth of experience, passion, and diverse perspectives that will strengthen TLC’s work as we continue to protect and care for land and water in the Triangle.
Michelle Nowlin
Michelle Nowlin is Co-Director of Duke University’s Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, where she mentors students from the Law School and the Nicholas School of the Environment in representing nonprofits. Raised on Florida’s beaches and maritime forests, she has dedicated her career to protecting the environment and public health. Before joining Duke’s faculty in 2008, Nowlin was a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. Her work ranges from negotiating a landmark settlement protecting endangered sea turtles to advancing policies to cut plastic pollution, safeguard children from lead poisoning, and strengthen pollution controls on industrial agriculture. She has litigated under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Coastal Area Management Act, and National Environmental Policy Act to protect the Southeast’s natural resources.
Nowlin has held many leadership roles, including chairing the NC Bar Association’s Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Section and the Duke Campus Farm advisory board, and currently serves on Duke’s Climate Commitment committee. She lives in Durham with her husband, where they enjoy hiking, kayaking, and maintaining a certified bird- and wildlife-friendly garden.
John W. Narron
John W. Narron grew up in east Wake County and has practiced law for 47 years, including 40 with the Smith Debnam law firm in Raleigh. A graduate of East Carolina University and the University of Mississippi School of Law, he has spent much of his career representing individuals in business, family law, and estate and trust disputes. He is a State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a certified Family Financial Mediator. Beyond practicing law, Narron has served on several nonprofit boards and committees, including as Chairman of Southlight’s Board of Directors. He has also contributed locally through service on the Wendell Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.
A fourth-generation owner of his family’s farm in northern Johnston County, Narron actively farms small grains and hay. In 2011, he placed 105 acres of his farmland under a conservation easement, joining the TLC family long before serving on the Board of Directors. He and his wife, Beth, have three adult sons and two grandsons. They divide their time between Raleigh and Fort Benton, Montana.
Dr. Zakiya Leggett
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Zakiya Leggett’s love for natural resources and conservation was inspired early by enjoying outdoor activities with her mother. At The Piney Woods School, a historically African American boarding school in Mississippi, she gained hands-on sustainability and environmental stewardship experience through working on a campus farm. Dr. Leggett earned her B.S. from Tuskegee University, a master’s degree from Duke University, and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University.
Dr. Leggett’s research focuses on forest soil ecology and environmental education. She teaches environmental science and forest soils courses and has led programs that recruit and retain underrepresented students in conservation – including the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP), Scholars for Conservation Leadership Program (SCLP), and High School Summer Research Program (HSSRP). Dr. Leggett is committed to encouraging diverse student populations – whether at the primary and secondary or graduate levels – to pursue their educational goals. She shares her expertise mentoring in several career development programs designed to increase the number of underrepresented students in ecology, serves on advisory boards, and owns an educational consulting firm that supports environmental education programs. She is married and has four children.
