Diana Portner

Diana Portner is a Meridian Affiliate based in Colorado. Through her organization, Natural Connections, LLC, she works to help people agree on approaches to natural resource management as well as forest and watershed planning. Prior to her role as a Meridian Affiliate, she spent six years supporting Meridian as a mediator. A highlight of her time with Meridian—and a story that she will happily tell you—is her role in helping Southeast Alaskans overcome conflict around management of the Tongass National Forest, including ways to improve the wellbeing of surrounding rural communities.

Diana holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She frequently draws from her background in psychology and environmental management in order to lead groups toward productive outcomes. When designing and facilitating collaborative processes, she takes into account the mental and emotional needs of participants, ultimately helping them understand each other’s perspectives.

Diana lives in Boulder, Colorado with her dog, Chloe. In addition to her role as a Meridian Affiliate, Diana is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy at Naropa University, where she is exploring approaches to addressing individual internal challenges as they relate to interpersonal conflict.