I am a changemaker because I lead an organization that protects biodiversity through partnering with local people at the grass-roots level.
I feel a loving connection to my current home, the wandering oak woodlands and dramatic coastlines found only along the Central California coast. I feel a particular thrill when I consider the tropical forests and volcanic landscape of Central America, the sound of torrential rains in the wet season, the scent of dusty easterly winds in the dry season, and the possibilities of a countless diversity of organisms and an equally infinite number of innovative ways to practice conservation.
I want people to feel connected with their natural world, and for this connection to give us the courage to change the way we consume and share our natural resources.
I am passionate about biodiversity. I believe that conservation gains are achieved through people, through friendships and partnerships, through educating and sharing. Based on this belief, I founded Paso Pacifico a non-profit organization focused on practicing conservation through connecting people and landscapes. I have learned a lot in the five years since the organization began. More than ever, I believe that people are the key to protecting our planet's resources.
As a scientist, I am a tropical fire ecologist and have a particular interest in cultural fire use and the ecological interactions of fire with tropical forests. Prior to graduate school, I experienced life as a tour guide in tree canopies of Costa Rica, as a development researcher at an international development organization, and as a fire management planner at state parks.
On a personal note: I love the arts, particularly dance (classical). I live for my children (all three of them). And, I believe humans co-evolved with dogs and thus we need to have them in our lives.
