BAT CONSERVATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- NEPA & ESA Compliance Specialist
Aaron Sidder joined BCI in May 2019. As the NEPA & ESA Compliance Specialist at BCI, he monitors and responds to federal policy affecting bats like critical habitat designations and habitat conservation plans. He works closely with the Subterranean Team to survey and protect abandoned mine habitats in the western U.S. and works closely with federal partners to coordinate the environmental compliance on mine closure projects.
Prior to joining BCI, Aaron worked as an ecologist and science writer. He is experienced as a landscape ecologist with a focus in GIS and spatial modeling-his graduate research focused on the role of climate in driving mountain pine beetle outbreaks across the western U.S. He is an experienced field ecologist whose research has taken him to the Everglades, the Mojave Desert, and the top of the Rocky Mountains.
As a writer, Aaron has published at National Geographic, National Geographic Kids Magazine, Smithsonian SmartNews, 5280 Magazine, the Santa Fe Institute, and Eos, the publication of the American Geophysical Union. He is an alumnus of the AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship program where he wrote as a science journalist at National Geographic.
Aaron lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and dog. He enjoys outdoor pursuits, thumping bass lines, and fantasy novels.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- BCI As the Executive Assistant
Aiyanna Maciel joined BCI as the Executive Assistant in June 2021. Originally from Raymond, Maine, she moved to DeLand, Florida to pursue her undergraduate degree at Stetson University in 2015. In 2019, she graduated from Stetson with her Bachelor of Arts in World Languages and Cultures, concentrating in Spanish Translation with a minor in Latin American Studies and a Certificate of Community Engagement. While at Stetson, Aiyanna was a member of the Bonner Program, a service-learning organization committed to connecting students' academic and career interests with service within their communities. Throughout her four years in DeLand she supported Latinx populations in English as a Second Language programming and facilitated professional development workshops for fellow students.
Aiyanna is a 2021 graduate from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service with her Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and a Certificate in Gender, Peace, and Security. While at Georgetown, she worked for the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship on inclusive pedagogy and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Aiyanna is excited to bring her background in community engagement, inclusion strategies, and advocacy to BCI and the Executive Office as she learns more about bat conservation, land restoration, and other conservation efforts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Alexander ‘Sandy' Read is the proprietor of Sandy's convenience stores in Colorado. He previously served three full terms as a BCI Board member. After stepping off the Board for a mandatory year off (according to our bylaws), he has now rejoined the Board. He is a lifelong supporter of BCI and the son of BCI co-founder Verne Read.
Alexi discovered his love for nature growing up in the hardwood forests of New England. The pursuit of a life outdoors led him to field biology and an enduring affection for the critters of the world. After finishing a Bachelor's and Master's degree in evolutionary ecology he worked as a seasonal field ornithologist for several research institutes, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center before discovering the canyon country of the southwest. Enchanted by the landscapes and cultures of the Colorado Plateau, Alexi has been exploring the geology, flora, fauna, and human history of northern Arizona and southern Utah as a backpacking guide and instructor for the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute.
Alexi has been conducting subterranean surveys with Bat Conservation International since 2019. In addition to building his expertise underground, he has helped develop the Conservation team's capacity for avian surveys in conjunction with AML closures. Alexi now lives in Sedona, Arizona and spends most of his free time playing music, reading books and walking around in the desert.
Job Titles:
- Field Research Specialist
Alyson is a doctoral candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Texas A&M University. For her dissertation she is working on sensory ecology and behavior in bats, with a focus on olfactory ecology.
She received her Master's degree from Humboldt State University, where she worked on acoustic communication in bats. She loves to share her enthusiasm for bat research and conservation through outreach. She is active on Twitter and social media, where she works to share a love of bats with public. As a Field Research Specialist, she is excited to work with BCI to communicate about conservation and the amazing world of bats.
Job Titles:
- Conservation Research Program Manager
Amanda joined the BCI staff in 2019 and has studied bats for over 13 years. She received her PhD from Western University in Canada where she studied spatial-temporal variation in bat activity patterns.
She completed postdoctoral research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Texas A&M University. Amanda actively studies bat behavioral and sensory ecology and is a lecturer in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University.
Amanda has worked with bats and trained individuals in acoustic monitoring and analysis techniques around the world, including Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Israel.
Amy Dana joined Bat Conservation International in October 2021. As the Database Administrator, she acts as the "woman behind the curtain" keeping development data flowing smoothly. She has nearly 20 years of database experience at a variety of non-profit organizations, including opera, health care, and higher education. She holds a BA in Russian Area Studies from Colorado College and an MA from the University of Denver in International Administration and Conflict Resolution. Yes, she's just as surprised to end up a data nerd as you are.
She holds a Blackbaud professional certification in Raiser's Edge NXT and a CFRE. She is also the vice president of the Apra-Arkansas chapter, part of the national prospect researcher professional organization and a passionate advocate for racial and disability justice. She lives outside of Little Rock, AR with her husband, tween son, and two cats, and spends her spare time reading, watching sci-fi and horror, and building Lego sets (unless her son gets to them first).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Ann is a conservation ecologist with over 13 years of experience working with domestic and international industry leaders and conservation experts on biodiversity management. Ann has provided guidance on emerging tools and technologies for natural resource management, as well as assisted active and discontinued operations with managing their property in an ecologically-sustainable manner. Ann conceives of, coordinates and helps implement voluntary biodiversity projects for Freeport-McMoRan, while leveraging those opportunities for STEM and environmental education. In her role as Senior Biodiversity Scientist, Ann helps develop and facilitate productive relationships between Freeport-McMoRan and numerous non-profit and community partners to promote the longevity and sustainability of conservation projects.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Fenton received his Ph.D. in 1969 for work in the ecology and behaviour of bats. Since then he has held academic positions at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada 1969 to 1986), York University (Toronto, Canada 1986 to 2003) and the University of Western Ontario (2003 to present). He has published more than 250 papers in refereed journals (most of them about bats), as well as numerous nontechnical contributions. He has written four books about bats intended for a general audience (Just bats 1983, University of Toronto Press; Bats 1992 - revised edition 2001 Facts On File Inc; and The bat: wings in the night sky 1998, Key Porter Press; Fenton and Simmons 2014 Bats: a world of science and mystery Univ of Chicago press).
He continues his research on the ecology and behaviour of bats, with special emphasis on echolocation and evolution. He currently is an Emeritus Professor of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. He was inducted as a Fellow of the Royals Society of Canada (FRSC) in November 2014.
Professor of global environmental politics, Brandeis University and the Fletcher School at Tufts University; former board member of Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (co-chair) and Root Capital; author, Conservation Across Borders: Biodiversity in an Interdependent World (Island Press 2006) and co-editor, Conservation & Climate Change: Landscape and Seascape Science, Planning and Action (Island Press 2012); previous consultant for the Union of Concerned scientists and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation; previously served on the board of Bat Conservation International and was recently re-elected.
Job Titles:
- Acoustic Data Specialist
- Bat Acoustic Program Manager
Christen Long joined the BCI staff in February 2017. As the Bat Acoustic Program Manager, Christen processes bat acoustic data for several of BCI's conservation programs. She also processes large quantities of data to contribute to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat). Christen's work helps inform planning to better conserve bat populations.
Christen holds a B.S. in Zoology from Humboldt State University. It was during her time in school that she gained a passion for bats and first began participating in field work, studying hoary bat migration as well as analyzing bat acoustic data.
Job Titles:
- BCI Habitat and Restoration Director Jason Corbett Rappelling into a Uranium Mine.
Dan Taylor is a Senior Restoration Specialist with BCI's Habitat Protection and Restoration (HP&R) Program and has more than 30 years of experience working on a wide range of wildlife and conservation issues in the U.S., Central America, and Africa. Dan has been with BCI for 23 years, previously directing its Bats and Mines, Bats and Forests, and Water for Wildlife initiatives. Dan's background as a USDA-Forest Service biologist in Arizona, Montana, and Oregon, and years of experience facilitating collaboration between BCI and local, state, and national government partners made him well-suited to lead BCI's HP&R habitat restoration initiatives.
The HP&R Program is working with the primary agencies responsible for natural resource management in North America and private landowners to ensure the incorporation of bat conservation into key policy, planning, and land management actions. Dan authored BCI's Forest Management & Bats publication and co-authored BCI's Bats and Mines and Water for Wildlife handbooks with Dr. Merlin Tuttle.
He is a member of The Wildlife Society, and the Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Bat Working Groups, and was a founding member of the Society for Conservation Biology.
Prior to his work with BCI and the Forest Service, Dan was the first director of the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Belize, Central America, and previously worked seasonally on several wildlife projects involving wolves, brown and black bears, European badgers, and northern and Mexican spotted owls.
Dan holds a bachelors degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and a masters of science in Forestry from Northern Arizona University.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Trained as a visual artist, Danielle Gustafson launched the New York Stock Exchange's first website and then grew their digital footprint through 2009 before expanding her scope to start-ups, not-for-profits and banking. While serving as a digital-strategy executive in financial services, she also (literally) moonlighted as cofounder of the NYC Bat Group in 2004. In addition to her professional consulting work and leading bat walks, she now advocates for broader awareness and study of bats, and believes that the smartphone, in the hands of the citizen scientist, may be the most important conservation tool of the 21st century.
Danielle is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, and has an MFA from California Institute of the Arts. She was a fellow at the Whitney Museum of American‘s Independent Study Program, studied e-business strategy at MIT Sloan School of Management and is a Resident at TED. She also serves on the Board of the International League of Conservation Photographers and has a recent TED Talk: The future of conservation is in your pocket.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Associate Professor of Ecology at University of Naples Federico II, Italy. Danilo's work focuses on bat ecology, behaviour and evolutionary biology, and often involves the development of conservation strategies. Danilo has authored > 110 articles in internationally respected scientific journals. He is currently the vice-chair of EUROBATS Advisory Committee; one of the European Food Safety Authority experts in a working group on bats and pesticides; the main proposer of a EU-funded COST Action on bats and climate change; and the editor-in-chief of the top-ranking zoological journal Mammal Review.
Dillon works on the subterranean team, spending many of his working hours squirming around in caves and abandoned mines all over the American West. This close-up look at bats and their habitat has blossomed into an ever-deepening curiosity about these diverse little fliers. Where do they roost? How do they organize socially, if at all? What do they eat?
These are the questions that drive Dillon deeper and higher into the underground places he goes. He's been working with Bat Conservation International since the summer of 2016.
Prior to working with BCI, Dillon guided backpacking trips and worked as an NPS ranger in the Grand Canyon, directed conservation corps members on public lands projects, instructed SCUBA students in Thailand, worked in maintenance at Denali National Park in Alaska, and so on. This diverse background has equipped Dillon with a versatile and adaptable skill set that's applicable in many situations.
Dillon lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, with his wife Anya. They both enjoy rock climbing, canyoneering, whitewater boating and backpacking in their time off.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Trustee of Hamilton College
Chief Executive Officer of Five Stone Capital, L.P. and is the founding Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Kenmont Capital, LP. Mr. Kendall received an A.B. degree from Hamilton College and an M.B.A. with high honors from The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
He was a Tuck Scholar and a recipient of the W. M. Bollenbach, Jr. Fellowship. Mr. Kendall has served as a Trustee of Hamilton College (and as a member of its Investment Committee), on the Board of Overseers of The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College, and as a board member of American Midstream Partners LP, Solar City, Stream Energy, Tangent Energy, Earthwatch Institute, The Houston Zoo, The Jane Goodall Institute and The Prospect Park Alliance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
- Professor
Dr. Andrew Sansom is one of Texas' leading conservationists. He is a former Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Executive Director of the Texas Nature Conservancy. For his commitment to the management and protection of natural resources, he is a recipient of the Chevron Conservation Award, The Chuck Yeager Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Pugsley Medal from the National Park Foundation, the Seton Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nature Conservancy. Dr. Sansom is a Distinguished Alumnus of Austin College, and Texas Tech University. Under his leadership at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Dr. Sansom spearheaded a number of significant programs, including:
Founding the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation which has raised over $150 million for conservation in Texas to date.
Adding more than 500,000 acres to the State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas.
His published works have appeared in Texas Monthly, The Texas Observer, Houston City Magazine, Politics Today, Texas Highways, Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas Town and City. He is the author of eight books, Texas Lost, Texas Past, Scout the Christmas Dog, Water In Texas and Southern Plains Bison, Resurrection of the Lost Texas Herd, After Ike, Of Texas Rivers and Texas Art and Seasons of Selah.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
- Assistant Professor at the Ohio State University
Dr. Gerald Carter is an Assistant Professor at the Ohio State University for the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology. He has studied bats for 20 years, with research focused on behavioral ecology and the social relationships of bats. He grew up in the Adirondacks in New York State. He enjoys hiking, caving, and climbing.
Job Titles:
- Director, Endangered Species Interventions
Dr. Jon Flanders is responsible for leading conservation initiatives that effectively address BCI's global conservation priorities. With over 20 years of experience working on conservation projects across the globe, Jon recognizes the importance of partnerships in delivering social, environmental and economic benefits. Working with a range of organizations, from small non-profits to government departments he can strategically prioritize projects that balance conservation needs with sustainability.
Jon received his Ph.D. from the University of Bristol where he integrated investigations of the ecology, diet, and population genetics of the greater horseshoe bat to advance its conservation. Prior to joining BCI, Jon had worked extensively across Asia and Central America leading a variety of conservation-related research projects, as well as teaching workshops and outreach efforts for local researchers and students.
Jon is an Adjunct Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University and a Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Professor of Biology at Butte College
Shahroukh Mistry is a professor of Biology at Butte College in California, Adjunct Professor of Biology at California State University, Chico and has an avid interest in ecology, conservation, education, and outreach. He grew up in India where he researched the ecology and behavior of birds for his undergraduate and master's degrees. Shahroukh received a master's in Ethology with Gary McCracken at the University of Tennessee, examining the behavior of Mexican free-tailed bats in Texas, and then his Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of New Mexico with James H. Brown, investigating the role of Indian fruit bats in pollination and seed dispersal - a study that would not have been possible without the support of a BCI Student Scholar Award.
Shahroukh has been Chair of the Mammal Technical Committee for the Pennsylvania Biological Survey, part of the Chiroptera Specialist Group of the IUCN, and the Chiroptera Conservation and Information Network of South Asia. He served on the Board of the North American Society of Bat Research for ten years as Chair, Secretary and Associate Program Director. Shahroukh has received the Life Member Award from NASBR, and the John W. Rice Diversity and Equity Award from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.
Job Titles:
- Chief Scientist
- Associate Adjunct Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California
Dr. Winifred Frick serves as our Chief Scientist and leads scientific research that informs our evidence-based approaches to conservation. She is responsible for integrating science and conservation at Bat Conservation International to achieve lasting impact for bats around the world.
Dr. Frick has more than 20 years of experience studying bat ecology and conservation biology. She has published more than 80 scientific research papers and is a recognized global expert on bat ecology and conservation. She directs high-priority research and development of scalable solutions for achieving meaningful conservation outcomes for bats, including research on the threat of climate change, the disease White-nose Syndrome, and contributing conservation evidence to protect bats globally.
Dr. Frick is an Associate Adjunct Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She received her Ph.D. from Oregon State University and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz in Environmental Studies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
- Senior Executive
Eileen is a senior executive who is expert at utilizing the marketing mix to achieve desired business results, especially in the areas of market growth and expansion. Since founding the marketing consultancy n2o Group, Eileen has worked with a variety of clients in a breadth of industries including entertainment, technology, hospitality, conservation and education. Recent engagements have addressed both domestic and international challenges for both well established players and start-ups alike including Electronic Arts, the University of Michigan and the National Audubon Society.
Eileen's career began as a management consultant for New York based Newman-Stein where she consulted to a variety of packaged food companies including Del Monte Foods, ConAgra Foods and Bumble Bee Foods. With the divestiture of AT&T, Eileen joined the telecommunications industry ultimately holding numerous executive level positions including the senior vice president of marketing, sales and operations with companies including MCI, Pacific Bell and SBC. During this period, Eileen served on the Chief Executive's Steering Committee and Business Council, introduced and led a corporate wide professional women's mentoring program and chaired the New Product Development Council for Pacific Bell and SBC where she was awarded the American Lung Association's Envy Award for product development and technology.
Just prior to launching her own marketing consultancy, Eileen served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager for 2Bridge Software leading the commercialization and global launch of this SaaS pioneer's market entry. Her roll spanned the development and implementation of 2Bridge's product line, its sales and marketing organization (both domestically and internationally), engineering and development, corporate communications and investor relations.
Eileen is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, the Harvard Business School and is a certified Naturalist in the State of California. A frequent lecturer at the University of San Francisco and Hult Business School, Eileen is also an active mentor for secondary and post secondary students domestically and internationally. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Bat Conservation International, Eileen is a member of the Board of Directors of Earthwatch.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Associate Professor of Conservation Biology at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil, he received his Ph.D. from York University, in Canadá. His work is focused on the biology, ecology and conservation of Brazilian bats. He has more than 90 scientific papers and book chapters, and is one of the authors of the Field Guide to the Bats of the Amazon. He is the current president of the Brazilian Bat Research Society and the scientific coordinator for the assessment of the conservation status of Brazilian bat species.
Job Titles:
- Bat Walk Network Coordinator
- Walk Network Coordinator
Erin joined the BCI staff in 2019 and is thrilled to be coordinating BCI's new Bat Walk Program. Erin double majored in Wildlife Conservation and Entomology from the University of Delaware and received her MS in Wildlife Ecology from the Cesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
She has a special affinity for pollinators and is excited to have the opportunity to focus on bats! Erin has over 10 years of experience working as a wildlife biologist and running environmentally-focused volunteer programs. She is happiest working at the intersection of science communication and citizen empowerment. Erin loves working with volunteers and getting people excited about environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys gardening with native plants, playing ukulele, hiking, reading and being outside.
Ethan Sandoval joined BCI's Subterranean Team in May 2019. For two years Ethan travelled throughout the western US conducting bat habitat surveys in abandoned mines, working with land managers to protect bat roosts and recommend bat-friendly closures. In Ethan's current role as Restoration Team Lead, he coordinates development and implementation of a broad range of ecological restoration projects that benefit bats and other wildlife.
Before working with BCI, Ethan spent three years with the Sonoran Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. With them he conducted surveys to build vegetation community maps in both districts of Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe National Monument, and Coronado National Monument. While getting his Bachelor's degree, Ethan worked as a technician for the University of Arizona on wildlife monitoring projects involving bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and Arizona's four felids.
While growing up north of the Tucson, frequent encounters with the wildlife of the desert and the harsh but rich landscape formed an impression that would become a passion. The open Sonoran Desert and sky island mountain ranges of southern Arizona inspired Ethan to seek and form a connection with the outdoors. In his free time Ethan enjoys reaching far out places on topo maps across the west.
Job Titles:
- Fat Bat Project Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director, Bracken Cave Preserve
Fran has been with Bat Conservation International since 2006, directing educational bat flight programs and the restoration work on BCI's Bracken Cave Preserve and working with Central Texas landowners protecting other bat roosts. His work at the preserve protects the largest colony of bats in the world.
He is often asked to speak at various events, sharing his passion for informing the public about bats. This extended's to schools, zoos, Scouts and organizations from around the world. He has been featured on Texas Country Reporter, Travel Channel, several documentaries as well as Texas Highway Magazine.
In 2013 he was recognized by the US Forest Service for Wings Across the Americas / BatsLIVE education program.
Fran is also a Caver and Texas Master Naturalist and Eagle Scout.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Gary Dreyzin is an Honors Attorney at the Office of General Counsel at NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). He earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and has published a review for the Georgetown Environmental Law Review. Gary was formerly a Judicial Law Clerk for the United States Court of Federal Claims.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Order of the Alamo
Originally from San Antonio, George "Timo" Hixon grew up on his family ranches in South Texas and Idaho, becoming familiar with the land and the workings of a ranch. This upbringing instilled both a respect for the land and a solid foundation of ranching knowledge that eventually led him to ranch real estate in 2006.
Jackson has been working with BCI's Subterranean Program for three years. On the subterranean team, Jackson assists in coordinating projects with federal agencies and private partners inventorying abandoned mines for bat habitat. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. His professional career has led him to chasing wildlife all over the country, working on research and management projects from Alaska down to Mexico.
Jackson is a proud Arizona native. He became passionate about wildlife at a young age, inspired by the Sonoran Desert surrounding Tucson. He encountered his first bats while exploring abandoned mines in the desert behind his childhood neighborhood. In his spare time, you can find Jackson exploring the vast canyons and mountains of the Southwest, often with his pitbull pal, Ria, by his side.
Job Titles:
- Director, Habitat Protection & Restoration
I've been happily working with wildlife since the tender age of 8 when an Emmy Award winning wildlife cinematographer moved in next door and hired my brother and I to work with him on his wildlife films for National Geographic, the BBC, Discovery Channel, etc.
Several jobs later I am ecstatic to be working hard on conserving a taxa I greatly admire, bats, and my favorite type of habitat on the planet; all things under the Earth. These dark spaces; caves, mines, cracks, crypts, ossuaries, sinkholes, cenotes, springs, and many others provide shelter, refuge, and critical habitat for many species of plants and animals.
By working to protect subterranean bats and their habitat, I'm able to help protect not only the amazing places they call home, but also all of the other plants and animals that need these spaces. It is hard work but I love it!
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Javier Folgar joined Bat Conservation International in October 2018. As the Director of Communications, he's dedicated to conserving the world's bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet.
With over a decade of experience in Communications, Javier is a conservationist who served in key roles protecting wildlife and our natural & cultural resources. He received a B.S. in Marketing from Rutgers University and earned an MBA from Montclair State University. Most recently he served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) with accomplishments including developing an award-winning video series, called myATstory, that elevated the exposure for the organization. He also led nationwide campaigns that substantially grew ATC's brand identity, advocated for America's public lands, and increased financial support for the organization.
Javier currently serves on the board for Altruistic Odyssey, is a volunteer for the Catholic Fellowship of Frederick, and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America. During his free time, Javier is a competitive swimmer for the Tsunami US Master swim team and enjoys hiking on the weekends with his lab.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Jenn has both a business and technical background, and has worked for multiple Fortune companies as well as startups throughout her career, including companies centered around technology, software, banking, stock brokerage, transportation, and industrial automation. She has frequently been called upon to work with executives and corporate partners, and lead large global programs that require both strategic thought and attention to detail. Jenn has expertise in consulting, mediating, data analytics, employee engagement, customer experience, change management, Lean Six Sigma, and building cross-functional teams.
Jenn became aware of the benefits of bats over 20 years ago when she moved to a ranch and found the need for natural bug control. Being a conservationist at heart, as well as a proponent of managing property through organic measures, she discovered that bats were the perfect solution. This discovery resulted in two custom-made bat houses being built and installed on the ranch, and are now home to over 600 Mexican Freetail bats. The houses became maternity wards due to their location along the bats' yearly migration path, were quickly inhabited, and are still in use to this day. This was the start of Jenn's love for bats and her understanding of the critical need to protect this important and unique mammal and its habitats.
Jenn holds an MBA from UMass Amherst, and a Bachelors in Computer Science from Loyola University New Orleans. She is thrilled to leverage her expertise to support Bat Conservation International's mission to "conserve the world's bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet."
Job Titles:
- Director, Information Technology
Beej has been with BCI for many years, and looks after anything vaguely related to Information Technology. He is a graduate of Staffordshire University, UK. For those who are curious, the nickname ‘Beej' stems from ‘Big John' -> ‘B.J' -> ‘Beejay' -> ‘Beej'!
Job Titles:
- Director of Membership & Individual Giving
Karen joined the BCI team at the start of 2019, bringing with her more than 11 years of fundraising experience, including nine years overseeing membership and annual giving programs at environmental organizations. She holds certifications in Non-Profit Management, Leadership, and Fundraising and is an active member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Prior to joining BCI, Karen served as Director of Development for the San Antonio Botanical Garden, Development Coordinator for the San Antonio River Foundation, and Assistant Director of Donor Relations at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
After an outdoorsy early childhood in Hawaii and Germany, her family settled in San Antonio just in time for her high school years. Karen earned undergraduate degrees in English and German at The University of Texas at Austin and a Master's degree in communications from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Karen enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, hiking, travelling, and volunteering as a Texas Master Naturalist. She and her husband live just 20 minutes from Bracken Cave along with their rescue cat who likes to make appearances on Zoom calls.
Job Titles:
- Ecologist
- Southwest NABat Hub Coordinator
Kathy Gerst is an ecologist who cultivates strong partnerships across science and management applications in the Southwest. She aims to bring together stakeholders, researchers, and agencies to ensure that science is collaborative and useful for the health and resiliency of ecological communities. She enthusiastically promotes the use of standardized monitoring protocols and data accessibility.
Over the past 20 years, Kathy's work and interests have led her to carry out field research across mountains, deserts, and tropical rainforests. She speaks and publishes regularly on phenology and Sonoran Desert natural history. Kathy received a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona in 2011 where she studied plant reproductive ecology. Prior to joining BCI, Kathy worked for 9 years as a Research Scientist with the USA National Phenology Network.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Chief of Conservation & Global Strategy
Kevin Pierson is the principal conservation leader, manager, and planner for Bat Conservation International (BCI). He is responsible for the vision, oversight, planning and implementation of a comprehensive conservation program that charts a path for growth in BCI's conservation impact and global conservation reach.
Kevin comes to BCI with over 15 years of extensive nonprofit experience as a conservation strategist, fundraiser, and advocate. Kevin is an inspirational leader with strong expertise in identifying and implementing steps to achieve BCI's mission including clarifying ideas into fundable programs, raising funds, and managing for results.
Job Titles:
- Endangered Species Interventions Specialist
Dr. Lear is the Endangered Species Interventions Specialist in charge of BCI's Agave Restoration Initiative. She got her start in bat conservation in 6th grade when she built and installed bat houses for her Girl Scout Silver Award project. Since then, she has worked on bat research, conservation, and education projects around the world.
She earned a BA in Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2011, where she assisted with a project studying the pest control services of bats in pecan orchards and led a bat house study for her Honors research. Following graduation, she earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study the critically endangered Southern bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii) in South Australia. In 2020, Kristen earned her Ph.D. in Integrative Conservation from the University of Georgia. Her Ph.D. work combined natural and social science approaches to aid in the conservation of the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) in northeast Mexico.
Kristen is a National Geographic Explorer, AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador working to encourage girls and young women in STEM fields, and a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts. She is also passionate about public outreach and education, giving numerous bat talks at schools and organizations around the world, leading public bat walks and bat house building workshops, and making numerous media appearances, including on CBS' "Mission Unstoppable" TV show. More information about Kristen's work can be found here.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Professor of Conservation Biology at Stony Brook University. Dr. Dávalos is an expert in biodiversity conservation and genomics. She is a 2012 National Academies of Sciences Education Fellow in the Life Sciences, a 2013 Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow for outstanding early career. She has advised the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime on deforestation since 2007. She is a coauthor of the 2016 UNODC World Drug Report.
Job Titles:
- Development Services Associate
Lisa Murdock joined the Bat Conservation International Philanthropy team in March 2016 as a membership data entry clerk. She received her B.S. in Nursing from The University of Texas at Austin, and spent many years in the medical field before focusing on her true passion-animals. Lisa has experience with small and large companion pets, as well as native wildlife, and even zoo animals.
While not working to save the bats, Lisa enjoys hiking, reading, watching sports, traveling, and spending time with her boyfriend. She hopes to someday work more hands-on with bats in their natural environment, helping to ensure their future survival and success.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Genetics (CBG) from the Sciencie and Technology Faculty at Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Jordan, Bolivia. Dr. Aguirre is the founder and coordinator for the Bolivian Program for Bat Conservation, co-founded of the Latin American Network for the Conservation of Bats (RELCOM), and co-founder of the Latin American Network of Mammals. He is also a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Bat Specialist Group and Bolivian Association of Mammalian Researchers. He has written and co-authored > 100 scientific articles in magazines and books, and published author and co-author of 13 books and guides. Awarded the 2004 Development Cooperation Award (Kingdom of Belgium), the 2005 Conservation Leadership Award (Wildlife Trust), the Oliver P. Pearson Award (2006, American Society of Mammalogists, the 2007 Whitley Award granted (Whitley Fund for Nature) and the 2012 Lazaro Spallanzani Award (North American Symposium on Bat Research, NASBR).
Luz is an ecologist and veterinarian, and her work has focused on exploring the impacts of wildlife trade, land use change, and invasive species on wildlife health and human well-being. Luz joins BCI as a Research Scientist working to monitor bat health and integrate One Health approaches into bat conservation, research, and policy recommendations.
Luz obtained a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a master's degree in conservation medicine from Tufts University and her Ph.D. degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Luz completed her postdoctoral research at the University of Vermont's Gund Institute for Environment, and she is currently an Associate Instructor at the University of Utah, where she teaches a course on disease ecology.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director of Sales & Marketing of Quarter Circle 10 LLC
Maria Mathis is Director of Sales & Marketing of Quarter Circle 10 LLC. She serves on the Boards of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Texas and the Brown Foundation.
Maria has a Bachelor of Arts in Feminist Studies from Southwestern University and serves on the university's Board of Visitors. She recently was recognized as one of Southwestern's "18 under 40" alumni who have achieved prominence in their field and/or performed distinguished community service. She is the daughter of two former BCI Board members: Bettina and Travis Mathis.
Michael Nakamoto leads a compassionate and talented team that oversees the finances, human resources, information technology, and operations functions in support of BCI's mission. Michael also co-sponsors organizational initiatives on data science and diversity & inclusion.
Michael brings two decades of experience helping organizations align and scale their operations to best support their mission and strategy. For the past 13 years, Michael led programs and projects at The Nature Conservancy that helped various departments improve their business systems and processes to achieve organizational goals. Previously, he served as the Chief Financial and Administrations Officer of a retail flooring company where he helped build an operations function and new revenue streams critical to enabling the company's growth from $6 million to $16 million.
Michael graduated from the University of Virginia with a business degree with a concentration in Finance. He also has an MBA from the University of Maryland with a focus on creating social and environmental value.
Michael has 12 years of experience working on bat conservation in academic, public, and private settings. He has studied bat distribution and behavior with acoustic and capture techniques, radio-telemetry, thermal imagery, and NEXRAD RADAR. Michael specializes in the use of emerging technology and advanced analytical techniques to find practical solutions to wide-spread conservation challenges.
He holds a B.S. from the University of Maine and an M.S. from Ball State University, and hopes to complete his Ph.D. in the coming months at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving
Michelle joined Bat Conservation International (BCI) in fall 2017. As the Director of Institutional Giving, she oversees funding relationships with governments and foundations and serves as the organization's representative to the corporate funding community.
Before joining BCI, Michelle led the communications and development team at a nature center in Houston and, as a board member, also helped form Exploration Green-a 200-acre green space for conservation, recreation, and flood detention in Greater Houston. Throughout her nonprofit career, Michelle's work has involved frontline fundraising, development operations, content marketing, strategic communications and advancing equity in environmental conservation. She is always up for having conversations about workplace culture, decolonized philanthropy and inclusion for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) staff in the nonprofit sector.
Michelle holds a bachelor's and master's degree in environmental anthropology as well as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification. In fall 2020, Michelle teamed up with four other Texas-based fundraisers to establish the Community-Centric Fundraising, Texas Chapter. She is a long-time member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and currently serves on the Marketing Committee for AFP Global. Michelle is also an active mentor and is humbled to be one of six mentors selected for the inaugural 2021 Blackbaud Emerging Leader Mentoring & Leadership Development Program for AFP Global.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Mike Daulton has served as Executive Director of Bat Conservation International since 2017. Mike leads all aspects of BCI's progress toward becoming one of the fastest growing and most effective conservation organizations anywhere in the world.
Mike is an award-winning conservationist with two decades of experience as an environmental leader in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining BCI, Mike served as a senior-level policy director and organizational strategist for the National Audubon Society for 17 years, most recently as their Vice President of Policy and Strategy. Mike is recognized for his success in building complex coalitions with a wide variety of governmental, nonprofit, philanthropic, and private sector leaders to drive conservation at scale. He led Audubon's successful efforts to defend bedrock environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He also led efforts to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling and pass the RESTORE Act through Congress, which dedicates $20 billion to restoring Gulf Coast ecosystems.
Mike has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress, appeared on CSPAN and CBS News, and been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and many other major news outlets.
Mike graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, San Diego with a B.Sc. in Ecology and earned a Master's in Public Policy from Duke University. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two daughters.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Chief of Strategic Partnerships
Mylea Bayless leads our Network & Partnerships Division with more than 20 years of experience in building collaborative teams for conservation, research, and wildlife management. She has been integral to our mission for more a decade leading the conservation team in the U.
"If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The wisdom of this African proverb defines her approach to conservation. A life-long student, she is thrilled to be focusing her natural affinity for people to develop strategic partnerships that will grow our impact around the world.
Bayless joined BCI in 2006, with a career portfolio including State and Federal agency service and academic research. Including bats, her research background includes a variety of wildlife (including spotted owls, bald eagles, American pronghorn, Merriam's turkeys, and Rocky Mountain elk). She holds degrees from Colorado State University (B.S., M.S.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
- Science Advisory Committee Board Liaison
Curator-in-Charge of the Department of Mammalogy and Professor in the Richard Guilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Dr. Simmons is an expert in taxonomy and systematics of bats. Author of the authoritative "Chiroptera" chapter in Mammal Species of the World, she maintains an ever-updated list of valid bat species of the world including their geographic ranges and recognized subspecies.
Dr. Simmons has authored numerous papers on bat phylogenetics and evolution, and in 2008 she was awarded the Gerrit S. Miller Award from the North American Society for Bat Research for outstanding contributions in the field of chiropteran biology. She is a member of the Steering Committee for the Southeast Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit (SEABCRU), and is also a member of IUCN Bat Specialist Group of Species Survival Commission.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- PacWest NABat Hub Coordinator
Nat joins BCI as the NABat Pacific West Hub Coordinator, working to grow bat monitoring efforts throughout California and Nevada. Nat got his start in ecology and natural history research working at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California at Berkeley while earning a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies and a B.A. in Integrative Biology. He went on to work as a field biologist and environmental consultant on a variety of projects before finding a second passion for leading and facilitating wilderness expeditions and connecting others with the natural world. He led backpacking and rock climbing expeditions throughout the American West before serving as a program manager for an outdoor education nonprofit in California. Nat holds a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington.
Job Titles:
- Senior Restoration and Subterranean Specialist
Nathan Breece originally started working for BCI in 2009 as a part-time subterranean specialist. He was hired in early 2017 as the full-time field lead for the Subterranean Program. Nathan is involved with coordinating field work for a diverse set of partners including federal, state, and private entities. He spends a large part of his time surveying abandon mines and caves for suitable bat habitat. White-nose surveillance is also a large part of this surveying effort.
Nathan started working with bats in 2005 at the Northern Arizona University in the School of Forestry. Prior to working for BCI, Nathan worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde as biologist, forest researcher, recreation technician, and wildland firefighter. These jobs were in Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona. In addition to his natural resource work, Nathan also spent several years as a professional ski instructor in Oregon, Utah, and Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
- Chairman of Bat Conservation Africa
Senior Lecturer of Wildlife Biology at Maasai Mara University, Kenya. Dr. Webala is currently the Chair of Bat Conservation Africa. He uses bats as a focal group to understand and interrogate processes that drive rarity and abundance of mammals in natural, and human-dominated, environments. He is primarily a community ecologist, although his research addresses a variety of important questions for improving bat conservation in Africa. His research also spans several subfields of biology, as his work examines behavioral, ecological and systematic/ taxonomic questions. He has authored a number of publications on bat ecology, taxonomy and conservation.
Job Titles:
- Geospatial Products & Data Manager
- the Geospatial Products and Data Manager
Priyesh Patel joined Bat Conservation International in the December of 2018 and serves as the Geospatial Products and Data Manager. He supports the geospatial team through personnel supervision & oversight, workflow & product development, protocol development, and product development for both BCI and BCI's partners. In addition to supporting the geospatial team, Priyesh also contributes some of his labor to the Subterranean team by conducting field surveys.
Prior to joining BCI, Priyesh worked in the private sector for Quantum Spatial as a GIS Analyst where he conducted hazard & vegetation analysis along utility lines using advanced LiDAR data. Academically, Priyesh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Portland State University. Cumulatively, he has 6+ years of geospatial experience.
In his spare time he loves film photography, backpacking, playing music, and rockhounding.
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing Manager
Rachel joined Bat Conservation International in 2021, fostering the digital presence and community to support ending bat extinctions worldwide.
With a degree in Marketing and a career centered around supporting wildlife through digital channels, Rachel brings extensive knowledge of cultivating social communities that support conservation. She has a breadth of experience ranging from directing the Communications department at a local nature center to crafting social media strategies for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. She has also served as Marketing Chair for a conservation nonprofit in Latin America.
Rachel grew up in Reno, Nevada and spent much of her childhood hiking and camping in Lake Tahoe, which inspired her passion for conserving wildlife and learning about nature. She now enjoys hiking, snorkeling, and aerial acrobatics in San Diego, California, when she's not too busy playing the role of cat mom and plant parent.
Job Titles:
- Director, Conservation Programs Coordination & Project Management
Rebecca Patterson joined the BCI staff in January, 2008. As Director, Conservation Programs Coordination & Project Management, Rebecca provides Project Management support to all Conservation Programs including Bracken Cave Preserve, Endangered Species Interventions, Habitat Protection & Restoration and Public Lands. In addition to administrative support, she provides expertise in event planning and grant and contract management.
Rebecca holds a B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University. Prior to joining the BCI staff, she worked as a dog-trainer, recruiting her own dog to provide pet-assisted therapy. In addition to her love for all animals, Rebecca loves hiking and running the many trails of Austin, is a part-time film geek and self-proclaimed foodie.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Member of the Board of Directors
Roger Still is the Foundation Manager for the L-A-D Foundation, the largest private landholder in Missouri, whose organizational mission focuses on sustainable forestry and ecological stewardship in the Ozarks. L-A-D's property includes crucial habitat for endangered Indiana and Gray bats.
Roger has 25 years of experience in conservation, including as State Director of The Nature Conservancy of Missouri, Vice President of the Mississippi River Region at the National Audubon Society, and as a consultant on food and nature-related projects.
In Missouri, he led efforts while at The Nature Conservancy that resulted in the Dunn Ranch acquisition/Grand River Grasslands project, substantial acreage expansion of Wah Kon-Tah Prairie, acquisition of a 10,000 acres in the grasslands of Brazil, and landscape scale short-leaf pine restoration in the Ozarks, at Audubon, he initiated the Wildcat Glades Audubon and Conservation Center, the Audubon Center at Riverlands, and in Louisiana forged a partnership with Environmental Defense Fund and National Wildlife Federation to focus on restoration of the Gulf Coast with funding from the Walton Family Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Prince of Songkla University in Songkhla, Thailand. Dr. Bumrungsri focuses on ecosystem services of fruit- and insect-eating bats. He has done a number of studies on pollination in mangroves and farmland. He has also found that bats play a significant role in pest control agents in rice paddy fields. He has received the outstanding young lecturer award for both the science faculty and university. 2010 Lazaro Spallanzani Award (NASBR).
Job Titles:
- Fat Bat Project Coordinator
Sarah holds a B.S. in biology from The University of Akron and an M.S. in biology from Eastern Washington University, where she completed her thesis on temporal and spatial variation in bat activity over wetlands. She worked as a project manager for four years at the Luquillo Long-term Ecological Research site in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, and also worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, where she helped coordinate numerous bat research projects across the state. Sarah joined BCI in 2021 as the Fat Bat Project Coordinator, working on the largest-scale test of a solution to White-nose Syndrome to date.
Job Titles:
- Projects Manager for the Subterranean Program
- Subterranean Team Manager
Shawn Thomas joined the BCI staff in July, 2014. As Projects Manager for the Subterranean Program, Shawn coordinates projects involving inventories and monitoring of cave and mine-roosting bats. These projects involve working with diverse partners, ranging from federal agencies to private mining companies.
Prior to working for BCI, Shawn specialized in cave management for the National Park Service, having worked for several cave parks in the western U.S., including Carlsbad Caverns National Park (NM), Lava Beds National Monument (CA), Oregon Caves National Monument (OR), Great Basin National Park (NV), and Jewel Cave National Monument (SD).
Outside of work, Shawn's time is focused on exploring and mapping caves, with active projects in Arizona (Grand Canyon National Park caves), New Mexico (Lechuguilla Cave, Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave), and Montana (Bob Marshall Wilderness caves).
Sheriden Jansma joined the Operations team at Bat Conservation International in 2020. As a Project Accountant, she supports program reporting, accounts receivable and grants accounting, time and expense reporting, and more. Prior to joining BCI, Sheriden served in the Accounting Department with Pacific Historic Parks, supporting their mission to honor significant historical sites through research, education, restoration, and preservation. She is excited to bring her experience in nonprofit accounting to BCI, where she hopes to learn more about bats and wildlife conservation.
Sheriden earned a B.S. in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance and minor in Sustainable Energy Studies, from Eastern Connecticut State University. Sheriden is a proud military spouse now living in Central Texas. Originally from Connecticut, she has also spent time in Arizona and Hawaii. In her spare time, you may find Sheriden hiking the local trails with her husband, virtually connecting with family and friends across time-zones, or just generally doting on her dog and two cats.
Stephania Alexander joined BCI in 2020. She is part of our Operations Department, and she supports BCI's Executive Office with special projects. Stephania is a proud Latinx, and she is originally from LA, recently spent five years in Colorado, and has now moved to Washington, D.C. She has a strong background in service and team leadership and is excited to learn more about conservation and bats.
Stephania graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in International Relations and minor in French. Before joining the BCI staff, Stephania has worked in hospitality and with nonprofits abroad. She is passionate about holistic wellbeing and self-improvement. Stephania moved to D.C., looking to contribute to the nonprofit world with her operations experience and people management acumen. She is passionate about helping both people and the planet. On the weekends, you can find her riding her bike in D.C. or playing with her dog at the park.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Advisory Committee
Professor and Head of the School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Stuart is a zoologist with research interests in the broad areas of bioacoustics and behavioural ecology, with current research focused on acoustic identification of bats, mating systems, foraging ecology and understanding the spatial predictors of bat distributions. He is a member if the IUCN Species Survival Commission Bat Specialist Group and the extended executive of the Australasian Bat Society. Stuart also consults for both government and industry on large infrastructure developments such as dams, highways and wind farms.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. Dr. Kingston is an expert in conservation biology and community ecology of paleotropical bats. She started the Southeast Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit (SEABCRU) and is the co-chair of the IUCN Bat Specialist Group. She has authored numerous publications on bat ecology and conservation in Asia and is the co-editor of Bats in the Anthropocene.
Tina Cheng joined BCI in 2017 as a Conservation Biology Postdoctoral Fellow. Tina has worked in the fields of disease ecology and wildlife conservation for over a decade.
Tina recently completed a PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she investigated spatial impacts and approaches in the conservation of North American bats affected by white-nose syndrome.
Tina also received a master's in science from San Francisco State University, where she studied the historical impact of chytridiomycosis on neotropical amphibian populations. Tina graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Integrative Biology. She is excited to join the BCI team in their joint efforts to protect and conserve bat species around the world.
Vanessa Mukendi joined Bat Conservation International in 2021. As an Operations Team Fellow, she supports the Operations team on routine operations including financial audit support, time and expense reporting, charitable registrations, as well as various projects. Vanessa is from Prince George's County Maryland and has a passion for social and environmental change.
Vanessa graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and minors in Sustainability and Sociology. Before joining BCI, Vanessa worked on the business side of the medical industry and landscape design with native planting. She has served in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps where she focused on natural disaster relief by rebuilding houses from Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas and environmental stewardship through prescribed and controlled burns in the Ozark Mountains. Vanessa enjoys getting involved in her community to support conservation. In her spare time, you can find Vanessa exploring new hiking trails or connecting with friends.
Job Titles:
- Researcher at Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Job Titles:
- Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellow
Yvonne has recently been awarded a Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellowship to work with Dr. Winifred Frick at BCI and Dr. Craig Willis at the University of Winnipeg investigating the physiological mechanisms of resistance and tolerance of hibernating bats to white-nose syndrome (WNS). Through her long standing research on bats she has developed a passion for, and commitment to, understanding physiological mechanisms in order to tackle large ecological questions and conservation issues. Yvonne is overly elated to be mentored by Dr. Frick and to be given the opportunity to join the BCI team to undertake this multi-disciplinary collaborative research and provide a unique, physiological perspective on mitigation and conservation of WNS-affected bats. Her research will effectively connect energy balance with habitat enhancement and bat survival to generate data-driven management recommendations, with direct implications for effective disease control in order to conserve North American biodiversity.
Job Titles:
- Vertical Habitat Specialist
Zac manages cliff hibernacula surveys and white-nose surveillance monitoring at Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks, and Pipe Springs National Monument. This work involves spring swabbing surveys, soliciting local climbers for bat observations, and scaling cliff faces in search of roosts and hibernacula.
This project allows him to combine his passion for rock climbing with his professional expertise in bats. He began working with bats in 2012 while working for the National Park Service and went on to receive his M.S. studying the northern long-eared bat in Nebraska.
He received his B.S. from Ball State University in wildlife Biology and his M.S. from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in applied ecology. He also has 11 years of climbing experience, 8 years of technical roped rescue experience, and is currently a member of Zion's technical rescue team. He is drawn to bat research because of the space to find novel approaches to answering difficult questions.