Catawba Riverkeeper to share leadership with Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

April 5, 2023

John Searby continues to be the Executive Director of Catawba Riverkeeper while also leading Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden towards its long-term vision

If you've been involved with Catawba Riverkeeper in the last 4 years, you've seen the tremendous growth through which John Searby has led the organization. With the support of dedicated staff, volunteers, and members, John's visionary leadership has propelled Catawba Riverkeeper into a premier environmental nonprofit. One key to his success has been an emphasis on collaboration between nonprofit, for profit, and government organizations who share a common mission of protecting and improving the environment and the quality of life for the people of this region.

Now, John has the opportunity to lead both Catawba Riverkeeper and ally in the nature movement, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, to new heights through a shared leadership model.

“It’s about nature preservation,” said John, who stepped into the Garden’s director role on March 1. “Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and the Catawba Riverkeeper share a deep-rooted passion for the world around us – from clean water to North Carolina’s beauty to fun and education. This shared leadership will allow us to converge our missions and work smarter toward effectively accomplishing our goals. “I look forward to bringing Catawba Riverkeeper and the Garden together in their visions and their day-to-day work to truly propel the importance of nature and preserve it for generations to come.”

Board Chair Adam Ackerman shares his excitement for John's dual role saying, "Catawba Riverkeeper looks forward to this shared leadership model with Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The synergies of our organizations will help us achieve our long-term strategic plan with John at the helm. With the property of the Garden having a footprint on the banks of our river, we see this move only helping our mission of preserving, protecting and restoring the Catawba."

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Catawba Riverkeeper Welcomes Dr. Mo Drinkard as New Executive Director

December 17, 2025

Catawba Riverkeeper is pleased to announce that Dr. Mo Drinkard has been hired as their new Executive Director. A standout among over 100 applicants, Mo was offered the position by the Catawba Riverkeeper Board of Directors search committee on Thursday, November 20th, and she assumed her role as leader of the organization on Monday, December 1st, 2025. Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones, who participated on the search committee, shared that “Mo’s education, experience, and passion are directly aligned with the organization’s mission and needs. We are excited for her perspective and leadership in continuing the critical work of protecting our waters.” Mo is a mission-driven non-profit leader, professor, and scholar with a passion for building strong organizations, nurturing future leaders, and tackling big challenges in conservation, equity, and education. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia (Kent State University, Brevard College, Miami University), community partnerships, and environmental science, she's worn many hats: executive director, grant writer, program architect, DEIB strategist, faculty and student mentor, and not often enough, field biologist in muddy boots. Mo's work lives at the intersection of applied research and social change. She specializes in transforming great ideas into funded, functional, and impactful programs, whether that’s designing experiential learning curricula, guiding strategic organizational turnarounds, or helping community-based groups access the resources they need to thrive. From leading national workforce development initiatives to restoring urban watersheds (Doan Brook Watershed Partnership) and mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists, Mo brings an entrepreneurial spirit and deep subject matter expertise in biology, ecology, sustainability, and inclusion. Mo believes that science is for everyone, and that real change happens when we build spaces where all voices can lead. “I am honored and excited to offer leadership for the next chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s work. I believe deeply in the mission and am fully invested in the health and future of this watershed. I look forward to getting to work supporting the waterways, communities, and people that make up this expansive and impactful basin,” Dr. Drinkard said. Catawba Riverkeeper, currently one of the ten largest riverkeeper organizations in the United States, boasts over 8,000 members across the 26 counties of North and South Carolina where the waters of the Catawba flow. As the fifth Executive Director of the organization, Mo will bring new and innovative ways to advance the work of her predecessors and the mission of the organization in this new chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s leadership. Mo will be supported by 11 full-time staff and 22 volunteer board members to preserve, protect, and restore the Catawba River so that it sustains plentiful, clean water for generations to come.