TURTLE ISLAND RESTORATION NETWORK - Key Persons
Alicia Arroyo is currently pursuing a degree in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. She has always been a fanatic of the ocean's many curiosities from microorganisms to macroorganisms, with hopes to continuously learn more from these organisms and help to preserve them and their home.
Job Titles:
- Nursery Manager & Restoration Ecologist, Was Part of a Collaborative Effort to Produce the "Return of the Western Monarch", Showcasing the Efforts to Help the Population of Monarchs
- Plant Nursery Manager
Audrey Fusco, Nursery Manager & Restoration Ecologist, was part of a collaborative effort to produce the "Return of the Western Monarch", showcasing the efforts to help the population of monarchs…
Audrey focuses on utilizing native plants to enhance habitat for wildlife and works with all aspects of revegetation of SPAWN's riparian restoration projects.
Ayano strives to protect and restore the natural environment through action, education, and connection.
Brittany McWhorter is a wildlife enthusiast from LaPorte, TX who loves all things related to coastal ecology! She is so excited to be interning with the Turtle Island Restoration Network with like minded individuals with the goal of preserving the gulf!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder of SeaChange Agency
Brock is the founder of SeaChange Agency and an underwater cinematographer.
Cameron is originally from Sebastopol, California, just up the coast from SPAWN's Marin County headquarters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Emeritus Director
- Founder and Director of Help Endangered Animals
- Founder of HEART
Carole Allen, the founder of HEART (Help Endangered Animals-Ridley Turtles) has been a part of Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) since the early 1990s, shortly after she met our staff-as well…
Carole Allen is the founder and director of Help Endangered Animals - Ridley Turtles (HEART).
Dr. Peñaherrera is an Ecuadorian Marine Biologist specialized in Quantitative Marine Science (QMS) and currently serves as the Academic Director at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador - Manabí. He has worked for more than ten years in the Galapagos Islands, carrying out projects in behavioral ecology, population ecology, trophic ecology, bio-economics and social sciences to further improve the knowledge on the conservation status of fish species. A graduate of the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, where he received his PhD, Cesar studies migratory marine species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and has co-authored over 15 research papers and books.
César Peñaherrera is an Ecuadorian Marine Biologist specialized in Quantitative Marine Science (QMS) and currently serves as the Academic Director at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador - Manabí.
Job Titles:
- Fellow at the University of California Santa Cruz
Myra Finkelstein is a David H. Smith Conservation Fellow at the University of California Santa Cruz whose research focuses on human impacts on marine ecosystems. This research is particularly targeted at contaminant-induced effects and toxicology in marine seabirds. She uses biomarkers of contaminant exposure to examine the population-level changes on certain seabird species due to marine pollution.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Sylvia Earle Alliance / Mission Blue
Deb Castellana is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Sylvia Earle Alliance / Mission Blue, where she is responsible for strategic planning and forming new alliance relationships to generate cooperative programs and projects to increase ocean conservation. She previously served as Mission Blue's Director of Communications.
Deborah has lived in Texas all her life, and is passionate about ocean conservation and protecting endangered species.
Job Titles:
- Turtle Island 's Ecuador Representative
Dr. Alex Hearn is Turtle Island's Ecuador Representative. Previously he worked as Turtle Island as Director of Conservation Science in early 2013. Previously, he worked at the Charles Darwin Foundation in the Galapagos Islands (2002-8) and was Project Scientist in the Dept. of Wildlife Fish & Conservation Biology at UC Davis (2008-13). He is one of the founders of the Migramar network, and has played an active role in publishing the science generated to date and in applying the science to policy. Alex has a BSc in Oceanography and Marine Biology, an MSc in Marine Resource Development and Protection, and a PhD in Marine Biology.
Job Titles:
- Biology Professor at Dalhousie University
- Full Professor of Biology / Dalhousie University
Dr. Worm is a Biology Professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a Marine Research Ecologist whose lab includes students and postdoctoral fellows studying the causes, consequences of change, and conservation of marine biodiversity. He has not only significantly contributed to the fields of marine ecology and fisheries conservation, but also spread public awareness to the issues within these fields.
Job Titles:
- Communications & Policy Intern
Elizabeth is currently studying environmental science with an aquatic biology tract.
Elpis Joan Chávez is a wildlife biologist whose work focuses on shark ecology. She has worked as a research coordinator and scientific consultant for organizations from Mexico, Costa Rica, and USA, including Turtle Island Restoration Network. Elpis has participated in research projects on spatial ecology of elasmobranches in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. She has an MSc in Wildlife Management from National University of Costa Rica, and a BS in biology from Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Environmental Scientist
Gail Yamamoto Seymour is an environmental scientist with a long and outstanding career in natural resource conservation for the State of California, most recently as California Department of Fish and Wildlife Senior Environmental Supervisor for Watershed Restoration and the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area. In 2018 she retired from State government service.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Upwell
- Upwell 's Executive Director and Co - Founder
Dr. Shillinger is Upwell's Executive Director and Co-Founder. He previously served as Executive Director for The Leatherback Trust. George has worked in environmental conservation since 1986, serving in various capacities for the Center for Ocean Solutions, California Trout, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, RARE, the Homeland Foundation, Conservation International, Discovery Communications-Animal Planet, and the Tag-A-Giant Fund of The Ocean Foundation.
George developed the initial vision for the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape and seed funding critical to launching the four-country transboundary conservation initiative. George's research interests include satellite-tracking studies on highly migratory marine species, including turtles, billfish, sharks, and tuna. He is co-founder of the Great Turtle Race, which used satellite tracking data and remotely-sensed environmental data to raise global awareness and generate funding for the management and conservation of critically endangered leatherbacks.
George holds a PhD in Marine Biology from Stanford University, an MBA from the Yale University School of Management, an MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Stanford University, and a BA in the Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania.
George Shillinger is the Executive Director of Upwell. He has worked in environmental conservation since 1986.
Jess Holland is an ethical and experienced philanthropic fundraising professional including her work with Habitat for Humanity in both Sugar Land and Houston, TX. Her passions include attending athletic events, traveling, and experiencing new cultures. She has a B.S. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Mgmt from Penn State University, and an M.S. in Administration from Central Michigan University. She resides with her husband, two children, and farm animals on a their small homestead in Texas.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Gulf Program Director
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London
Jonathan is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London as well as a notable photographer. He trained as a naturalist with the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation and is a coordinator for the Galapagos Whale Shark Research Project. He leads adventure travel trips and photo expeditions to the Amazon, Antarctica, Central America, Patagonia, Peru, and the Galapagos. He has published work in Time, Time Life, GEO, BBC Natural History, and Royal Geographical Magazines.
Jonathan R. Green is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London as well as a notable photographer.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Founder
- Founder and Director of Planeta Océano
Kerstin is the Founder and Director of Planeta Océano, a growing marine conservation non-profit based in Lima, Peru. She is a nationally and internationally rewarded young leader; and a creative social entrepreneur passionate and specialized in social engagement for marine conservation and sustainable fisheries. She has designed, developed and contributed to numerous research and environmental education initiatives along the coasts and mountains of Peru.
Kerstin Forsberg is the Founder and Director of Planeta Océano, a growing marine conservation non-profit based in Lima, Peru.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor at College of William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Kevin Weng is an Associate Professor at College of William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science where he studies the impact of fisheries on sharks and other marine species.
Mariano Castro is a Costa Rican lawyer with an LLM in public international law from Leiden University, and current candidate for a Mphil in Conservation Leadership in Cambridge University. A former Latin American Policy Director for TIRN, he has worked for several years as a legal and policy advisor in conservation initiatives, such as the consolidation of marine protected areas, strategies to tackle IUU fishing, conservation of endangered marine species (sharks and sea turtles) and climate change mitigation projects.
Job Titles:
- Professional Engineer, Small Business Owner
Mark Stabb is a professional engineer, small business owner, environmental conservationist and long time scuba divemaster. Mark has participated in a dozen expeditions to Cocos Island in support of TIRN, where he has completed nearly 300 dives tagging sharks, catching turtles and servicing receiver equipment. He has also dived in support of the Catalina Conservancy recording fish, invertebrate, and plant species found around the island. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, with a Ph.D. in engineering, Mark is currently working with TIRN to improve the technology used to tag and track the hammerhead and tiger sharks around Cocos Island.
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator
- Mexico Program Coordinator
Morgan grew up living in northern Texas but always knew that the ocean was where she belonged. Her strong passion for ocean conservation and education grew during her time working and volunteering with numerous non-profit organizations.
Nyna Hong graduated from California State University, Chico in
Environmental Science. Nyna grew up in Sacramento, CA and enjoys
traveling and surfing. She hopes to gain in depth experience in habitat
Job Titles:
- Director of Watershed Conservation With Turtle Island Restoration Network 's Salmon Protection and Watershed Network
Preston's work is focused on developing and facilitating stream restoration projects and administrating salmonid population monitoring programs.
Randall Arauz is a leading voice for marine wildlife conservation in Latin America. He served as Turtle Island Restoration Network's Central American Director from 1997 to 2007 and founded TIRN's sister organization in Costa Rica PRETOMA and later CREMA, and is a co-founder of MigraMar. He is currently the International Policy Director for Fins Attached. He has a BS in Biology and is currently a PhD. Candidate.
Environmentalist Teri Shore has championed winning campaigns to protect the natural world for more than two decades.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder
- Ecologist
Todd Steiner, founder and executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, has been named Honoree of the Eleanor Fletcher Award at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Go Blue Awards in Florida.
Todd Steiner is an ecologist and the founder and executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, an ocean advocacy and research NGO with offices in California, Texas and Hawaii.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate at California Academy of Sciences
Wallace J. Nichols is a Research Associate at California Academy of Sciences and founder/co-director of Ocean Revolution, an international network of young ocean advocates and author nearly 100 publications on ocean ecology
Job Titles:
- President of Aquatic Research & Communication
William Loftus is the President of Aquatic Research & Communication, LLC, which involves different institutions and agencies to restore fish communities via sampling techniques and communication of scientific issues
Job Titles:
- Founder of Patagonia Gives Away the Company to Fight Climate Change
The founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and his family have established a new foundation to provide $100 million a year to fight climate change, by given away all of his…