Leanne Benton 

Leanne grew up in California where her love for nature blossomed during summers spent at her grandparents’ cabin in the Sierra Nevada. An opportunity to work as a ranger-naturalist for the National Park Service led to a 34-year dream career living and working in some of the nation’s most beautiful places such as Rocky Mountain, Death Valley, Yosemite, Hot Springs, Carlsbad Caverns, and Mesa Verde national parks. At each, Leanne endeavored to help audiences form deeper connections to the parks through guided walks, talks, hikes, exhibits and literature.  Along the way, she discovered Ellen’s writing in Raven’s Exile, and Ellen’s love and deep knowledge of place resonated profoundly. Then, in one of those miraculous small-world events, Ellen’s nephew married Leanne’s daughter. Leanne met Ellen only once at the wedding and hoped for many future chances to get to know her. Sadly, those chances never came. Leanne feels privileged to be a part of the EMF to honor Ellen and further her legacy in desert literature.