The RORG team is comprised of University of Illinois Extension/Illinois Indiana Sea Grant staff within the College of ACES. The multidisciplinary team works on a range of water quality projects that include the RORG renovation.
Eliana Brown
RORG Director/Project Principal Investigator
Water Quality Specialist
brown12@illinois.edu
Water Quality Specialist Eliana Brown’s areas of expertise include green infrastructure and stormwater and wastewater programs. She leads Extension’s role facilitating the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and is a National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) instructor at Parkland College. Her education includes a Master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She began her University of Illinois career working for Facilities & Services Environmental Compliance as the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) coordinator co-founding events such as Boneyard Creek Community Day. Prior to that, she was an Illinois EPA Field Engineer. Her accreditations include LEED AP, NGICP, CPESC (2014), and certified Master Gardener. She sits on several committees, such as the university’s Land and Water SWATeam and is the Champaign County Conservation and Design Foundation Board Vice-President for Communications.
Layne Knoche
RORG Assistant Director
Extension Outreach Associate
lknoch2@illinois.edu
Layne Knoche is an Outreach Associate with Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. With a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, certification as an Illinois Master Gardener, and as Assistant Director and Landscape Designer of Urbana’s Red Oak Rain Garden, his professional focus revolves around native plants and planting design as they relate to stormwater systems and the integration of social, aesthetic, and educational aspects in those natural and built environments. Prior experience includes municipal streetscape design and landscape design contracting.
Gabe Harper
RORG Volunteer Coordinator
harperh2@illinois.edu
Gabriel Harper has a profound interest in the natural world and in design. He has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a minor in architecture. Gabriel is pursuing his Green Infrastructure Certificate through the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) and plans to design, create, and maintain various forms of green infrastructure in an urban setting. Through the use of green infrastructure and sustainable design, he hopes to solve issues between human development and natural processes. Some of his specific interests include pollinator and wildlife ecology, stormwater management, and urban native restoration.
Maddy Craft
RORG Student Engagement Coordinator
mcraft4@illinois.edu
Madelyn Craft is a Junior at the University of Illinois, majoring in Sustainable Design with minors in Landscape Studies and Natural Resource Conservation. She is most interested in native plants, environmental restoration, and green infrastructure. She is pursuing a career in urban landscape restoration with the hopes that she can design landscapes that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally beneficial to help create healthier communities.
redoakraingarden.org 