Meet Your New Board Members

Brandon Smith has been a dedicated volunteer with Trail Crew for the past few years, gaining hands-on experience in building and maintaining single-track trails within the San Marcos Greenbelt. From scouting the River Recharge Natural Area to setting pins for the new Limestone Link NA, he has played a key role in shaping trails from the ground up, including the recently completed New Paraiso Trail. Passionate about preserving natural spaces, he believes in ensuring public access to high-quality outdoor environments.

A Hays County Master Naturalist since 2022, Brandon graduated from Texas State University in 2008. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Abilene, he instantly felt at home upon arriving in the Hill Country. A tattoo artist by trade, he co-owns Rise and Shine Tattoos in Kyle, TX, alongside his wife and business partner. Together, they are raising two children. An avid outdoorsman, Brandon enjoys fly fishing, native gardening, and backpacking. A first-time Texas Water Safari finisher, he’s always in pursuit of the next big adventure.

Madison Mitchell is a recent graduate of Texas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography, Resource and Environmental Studies, and a minor in Sustainability Studies.

When Madison first moved to San Marcos in 2020, she quickly became enamored with the San Marcos River and wanted to spend as much time in it as possible. She was fascinated by the diverse plant and animal species and felt incredibly fortunate to have access to such a beautiful and priceless resource. As she progressed through her education, she learned more about the various efforts to protect the river and knew she wanted to be part of that mission.

Since 2022, Madison has worked at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, where she supports the Texas Stream Team program. She became a certified community scientist and later a trainer, leading Texas Stream Team water quality trainings and monitoring the water quality at Spring Lake. She has also participated in river cleanups, invasive species removal events, and other volunteer efforts, allowing her to stay connected to the river while giving back to the environment she loves.

Over time, Madison’s passion for conservation and sustainability has only grown. She is dedicated to initiatives that protect natural resources and enjoys exploring the many beautiful trails, green spaces, and waterways that the city of San Marcos has to offer. She values SMGA’s role in connecting people with nature through volunteer opportunities and conservation efforts. And she supports the organization’s commitment to preserving natural spaces for the benefit of the community.

Kimberly Meitzen grew up in El Paso, Texas, where one of her favorite activities was trail running and hiking in the Franklin Mountains and Chihuahua Desert. This cultivated a lifetime appreciation of public access to natural areas. Kimberly received her B.S. in Geography at the University of Texas, Austin, an M.S. and Ph.D.in Geography from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and was Post-Doctoral Fellow with Duke University and the Nature Conservancy in North Carolina. She has lived in San Marcos since 2013 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Texas State University (TXST). Kimberly teaches undergraduate courses on river processes, river basin management, environmental management, and biogeography, and graduate courses on water resources and river and society related issues. Kimberly participates in numerous professional and volunteer service activities and is currently the TXST representative for the Stakeholder Committee of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, the public interest representative for the Guadalupe Regional Flood Planning Group, and co-lead of the Texas Aquatic Connectivity Team. She received the TXST Favorite Professor award in 2014 and 2019, the College of Liberal Arts Service Award in 2021, and a TXST Presidential Research Award in 2023.  Kimberly and her husband, Walt, have converted their home landscaping to almost all native plants and vegetable gardens, their house is solar-powered, and they have a 3,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system. When she is not working in her gardens or playing with her cats, she enjoys hiking, trail running, paddle boarding, and removing litter from the natural areas and the San Marcos River.

Kristina Tolman moved from Austin to San Marcos in 2003 and has spent most of her professional career focused on San Marcos and the surrounding area. Growing up in Austin she developed a passion for nature while exploring its many green spaces. Upon Kristina’s moving to San Marcos, that passion expanded to water resources. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Applied Geography at Texas State University. Her professional career started in 2009 as an intern, then GIS specialist at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (MCWE) at Texas State University until 2016. Since 2016, she has worked at the Edwards Aquifer Authority as a Senior Habitat Conservation Coordinator for the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan. In her free time, Kristina enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening, and traveling.