PhD, UC Berkeley (Energy and Resources)
MS, UC Berkeley (Civil Engineering, Environmental Water Resources)
MPhil, Cambridge University, King’s College (History and Philosophy of Science)
AB, Harvard College (History and Science)

Dr. Micheli joined Sonoma County’s Pepperwood Foundation in October of 2009 as its inaugural Executive Director and now serves as the organization’s President and CEO. She brings more than 30 years of experience applying her technical, policy, and fundraising expertise to the design and implementation of ecological restoration, research, and education programs. She started her career at the US Environmental Protection Agency and then completed her graduate studies at UC Berkeley as a NASA Earth Systems Research Fellow in 2000.  She now focuses her research on relationships between climate, watershed health, wildfire, and biodiversity, and has published numerous peer-reviewed studies.

Dr. Micheli specializes in facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations focused on using relevant research to craft collective solutions to today’s most pressing landscape conservation challenges. She serves as the co-chair of Pepperwood’s Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative (TBC3) with Dr. David Ackerly, Dean of UC Berkeley’s Rausser College of Natural Resources. She has been recognized as a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, a Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Environmental Leader, a Bay Nature Local Hero, a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and a 2020 Global Fulbright Fellow. She is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the Society for Conservation Biology. Dr. Micheli serves on the Board of After The Fire, and as a Science Advisor to the Golden Gate Biosphere Network, and the California Biodiversity Network supporting statewide implementation of 30×30.

Publications

Chornesky, E. A., D. D. Ackerly, P. Beier, F. W. Davis, L. E. Flint, J. J. Lawler, P. B. Moyle, M. A. Moritz, M. Scoonover, K. Byrd, P. Alvarez, N. E. Heller, E. R. Micheli, and S. B. Weiss. 2015. Adapting California’s ecosystems to a changing climate. BioScience 65:247–262.

Cornwall, C., S. Moore, D. DiPietro, S. Veloz, L. Micheli, L. Casey, and M. Mersich. 2015. Climate Ready Sonoma County: Climate Hazards and Vulnerabilities. Prepared as part of Climate Action 2020 by North Bay Climate Adaptation Initiative for Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Santa Rosa, CA.

Halbur, M., E. R. Micheli, and S. Funke. 2015. Combining people, place and science: lessons learned from citizen science at Pepperwood. Poster presentation at Citizen Science Association, San Jose, CA.

Heller, N., J. Kreitler, D. D. Ackerly, S. B. Weiss, A. Recinos, R. Branciforte, L. E. Flint, A. L. Flint, and E. Micheli. 2015. Targeting climate diversity in conservation planning to build resilience to climate change. Ecosphere 6:65.

Micheli, L., L. E. Flint, S. Veloz, and N. Heller. 2015. PA13B-05: Generating relevant climate adaptation science tools in concert with local natural resource agencies. Oral presentation at American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.

Funke, S., M. Halbur, N. Barden, C. Dodge, J. Robinson, and L. Micheli. 2014. Pepperwood’s TeenNat Diverse Youth Contributing to Conservation Science. Poster presentation at Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship Conference, Washington, DC.

Gillogly, M., M. Halbur, C. Dodge, and L. Micheli. 2014. The Pepperwood Conservation Grazing Pilot Project: Managing for complexity in our coastal California grasslands. Poster presentation at California Invasive Plant Council, Chico, CA.

Ackerly, D., M. Oldfather, M. Britton, M. Halbur, and L. Micheli. 2013. Establishment of woodland vegetation research plots at Pepperwood Preserve. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Halbur, M., M. Kennedy, D. Ackerly, L. Micheli, and J. Thorne. 2013. Creating a detailed vegetation map for Pepperwood Preserve. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Heller, N., J. Kreitler, S. Weiss, D. Ackerly, and L. Micheli. 2013. Targeting climate diversity to increase the resilience of the Conservation Lands Network to climate change. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Micheli, L., and D. Ackerly. 2013. The Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative (TBC3): An interdisciplinary strategy for advancing science-based conservation. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Micheli, L., and D. DiPietro. 2013. North Bay vital signs: An integrated ecosystem-climate monitoring framework for Sonoma County. North Bay Climate Adaptation Initiative, Santa Rosa, CA.

Weiss, S. B., A. Flint, L. Flint, H. Hamilton, M. Fernandez, and L. Micheli. 2013. Climate scenarios for San Francisco Bay Area. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Micheli, E., L. Flint, A. Flint, S. Weiss, and M. Kennedy. 2012. Downscaling future climate projections to the watershed scale: A North San Francisco Bay case study. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science 4.

Townsend, S. E., L. Micheli, and M. Halbur. 2012. Using the Wildlife Picture Index to measure ecosystem health and connectivity. Poster presentation at The Wildlife Society, Reno, NV.

Jensen, M., M. Gillogly, M. Kennedy, and L. Micheli. 2011. Monitoring long-term vegetation response to climate change: Setting a baseline. Poster presentation at Organization of Biological Field Stations, Bodega, CA.

Micheli, E. R., and E. W. Larsen. 2011. River channel cutoff dynamics, Sacrament River, California, USA. River Research Applications 27:328–344.

Flint, L. E., A. L. Flint, S. B. Weiss, and E. R. Micheli. 2010. Hope for the forests? Habitat resiliency illustrated in the face of climate change using fine-scale modeling. Page 0834 American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA.

Micheli, L., L. Flint, A. Flint, M. Kennedy, S. Weiss, and R. Branciforte. 2010. Adapting to climate change: state of the science for North Bay watersheds a guide for managers. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Ridolfi, K., P. Vorster, and L. Micheli. 2010. Indicators and performance measures for North Bay watersheds. North Bay Watershed Association.

Hayes, G., and E. Micheli. 2009. Monitoring plan for the Rutherfor Reach of the Napa River. State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA.

Micheli, E. 2004. Limiting factors analysis (salmonid abundance and distribution), Sonoma Creek watershed. San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland, CA.

Micheli, E. R., J. W. Kirchner, and E. W. Larsen. 2004. Quantifying the effect of riparian forest versus agricultural vegetation on river meander migration rates, central Sacramento River, California, USA. River Research and Applications 20:537–548.

Avery, E. R., E. R. Micheli, and E. W. Larsen. 2003. River channel cut-off dynamics, Sacramento River, California, USA. Page 84 (46) American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting.

Micheli, E. R., and J. W. Kirchner. 2002. Effects of wet meadow riparian vegetation on streambank erosion. 1. Remote sensing measurements of streambank migration and erodibility. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 27:627–639.

Micheli, E. R., and J. W. Kirchner. 2002. Effects of wet meadow riparian vegetation on streambank erosion. 2. Measurements of vegetated bank strength and consequences for failure mechanics. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 27:687–697.

Larsen, E., and E. Micheli. 1997. Controls on bank erosion and migration of the upper Sacramento River. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.

Micheli, E., and J. W. Kirchner. 1997. Quantifying how herbaceous vegetation stabilizes stream banks: Monache Meadow, South Fork of the Kern River, Southern Sierra Nevada. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.

Kondolf, G. M., and E. R. Micheli. 1995. Evaluating stream restoration projects. Environmental Management 19:1–15.

Micheli, E. 1994. River and watershed planning: The San Luis Rey River case study EPA/600/R-94/213. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR.

Leidy, R. A., P. L. Fiedler, and E. R. Micheli. 1992. Is wetter better? BioScience 42:58–65.

Publication list last updated April 2016.

MA, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (International Environmental Policy)
MA, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (Public Administration)
BA, University of New Hampshire (English)

Stephanie grew up in southern New Hampshire, where she first fell in love with nature. Spending her summers camping throughout New England and southern Canada, she became utterly obsessed with the human niche/role in the natural world. Long ago, she swore that she would never, ever, for all the world, leave the glorious eastern United States. In her mid-twenties she moved to California and earned a Master’s in Public Administration and a second Master’s in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Stephanie was drawn to Pepperwood because of its collaborative science-based initiatives around fire and climate change in the North Bay, as well as its openness to traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and the integration of Indigenous science and perspectives in land stewardship. In addition to working with Pepperwood, Stephanie also works with the North Fork Mono Tribe of the Yosemite Valley. She is a student of cultural burning practices and TEK, and has studied with Ron Goode (Tribal Chair of the North Fork Mono Tribe) since her graduate studies in 2018. She has been on the Board of the Redbud Resource Group since 2020.

An avid reader, writer, and learner, Stephanie is enthusiastic about her role in Communications with Pepperwood; largely because there’s a lot to communicate about the work that is done here! She’ll leave you with this quote from Edward Abbey, which pretty much sums up her approach to life: “be loyal to what you love, be true to the Earth, fight your enemies with passion and laughter.”

BA, San Diego State University (Communications)

Sloane grew up in Sonoma County and spent her childhood exploring the creeks and vineyards of the Russian River valley. She has a background in Public Relations and Art History and previously served as the membership coordinator for the Skirball Cultural Center of Los Angeles. She has also devoted many years volunteering for various organizations in both educational and leadership positions. Sloane is focused on cultivating critical relationships with key members of the Pepperwood community including volunteers, stewards, members and donors. She is a certified yoga instructor and especially loves guiding those who are new to the practice. In her free time she enjoys gardening, cooking and hiking. She lives Sebastopol with her husband and two children.

BA, CSU Sacramento (Environmental Studies)

Michael first came to Pepperwood in 1994 to serve as the California Academy of Sciences’ Land Steward and Resident Biologist. Michael was promoted to Preserve Manager under the auspices of the newly established Pepperwood Foundation in 2005. As manager, Michael manages Pepperwood’s biological resources, oversees restoration and maintenance projects, directs field operations, and coordinates with researchers. Michael has led eco-tourism trips in Alaska and California and guides white water rafting expeditions throughout the western U.S. He lives on site at the preserve with his wife and their son.

Publications

Gillogly, M., M. Halbur, C. Dodge, and L. Micheli. 2014. The Pepperwood Conservation Grazing Pilot Project: Managing for complexity in our coastal California grasslands. Poster presentation at California Invasive Plant Council, Chico, CA.

Jensen, M., M. Gillogly, M. Kennedy, and L. Micheli. 2011. Monitoring long-term vegetation response to climate change: Setting a baseline. Poster presentation at Organization of Biological Field Stations, Bodega, CA.

Gillogly, M., and S. Brumbaugh. 2008. Grasslands of the Pepperwood Preserve. Grasslands 18:9–11.

BA, UC Santa Cruz (Environmental Studies and Economics)

Devyn Friedfel was born and raised in the Russian River area where he grew up learning to love the beauty and diversity of Sonoma County. While attending the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), Devyn organized volunteer restoration work days at Shone Farm to help control invasive plants and promote native species. Through the SRJC he had an opportunity to visit Pepperwood and dreamt of someday working there. Devyn moved to Santa Cruz County to finish his bachelor’s degree, then worked up and down the central coast with the UC Natural Reserve System, while simultaneously working as a field biologist for two environmental consulting companies. After 5 years of deeply missing Sonoma County he is happy to be back and a member of Pepperwood team. At Pepperwood, Devyn supports Preserve Manager Michael Gillogly in managing natural resources and infrastructure. He also runs our volunteer workdays in the field and assists with research.

MS, Walden University (Science Education)

Margaret has spent her career inspiring youth and community members to enjoy the natural world and become stewards of our environment. She began her work as a field biologist, studying endangered birds, bears, and other wildlife in Oregon, California, Alaska, New Zealand, and Midway Island. Her passions shifted to environmental education, and she worked as a curriculum specialist and educator at the San Diego Zoo and the California Academy of Sciences among others. Aside from nature education, Margaret loves to travel with her family and experience other cultures and wildlife. Margaret also holds a B.S. in wildlife biology, a B.S. in psychology, an M.S. in science education and is a certified instructor for the California Naturalist and Climate Stewards programs at the University of California.

MA, University of Connecticut (School Counseling)
BA, University of Connecticut (Psychology)

Holland has over 12 years of experience in the fields of education and youth development, much of which has been dedicated to environmental education in Sonoma County. She has called both coasts home, from a childhood spent roaming the hills of Napa County to studying Psychology and School Counseling at the University of Connecticut. She is a firm believer in the multidimensional value of environmental education for all, and is passionate about connecting people with the natural world. Holland coordinates Pepperwood’s Community Education offerings, administers and teaches for Students Conducting Environmental Inquiry (SCENIQ), and is a certified California Naturalist. In her free time she enjoys travel and camping, dabbling in art projects and gardening, and good meals with friends and family.

AA from Santa Rosa Junior College in Business – Human Resource Administration

Growing up in the mountains of West Virginia, it was commonplace for me to be outdoors exploring the woods, lakes and streams surrounding where we lived and every summer camping. It was only natural I found a love for all aspects of nature. I’ve had the opportunity to live in several areas of the country, discovering the diversity of nature in various climates. In 2015, I moved to California with my husband (a local), daughter and mother. Living here has opened up a whole new world of outdoor activities for me, differing greatly from other parts of the country I’ve experienced.

I have over 30 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting management, six plus years in the non-profit sector. In 2018 I returned to school, earning my HR degree to expand my knowledge base and boost my career.

I love to travel, read, advocate for the welfare of animals and spend time with family. I’m an avid gamer and crafter.

For Pepperwood, I provide financial and HR expertise and advisement to the Board and organization staff.

Isabel moved to Sonoma County as a child and immediately fell in love with the surrounding wildlife and environment. Exploring most of California with her family at a young age she learned to appreciate the different ecosystems that surrounded her. Graduating from Sonoma State University with a B.S in Marine Biology she promptly started as an intern in the environmental conservation field. Isabel has spent more than 15 years either interning, volunteering or working in nonprofits assisting, managing, teaching and training in multiple environmental organizations. Her leadership skills come naturally and she enjoys problem solving. Isabel is eager to learn and educate the public on the importance of our local native environments. Joining Pepperwood is an exciting new step where she hopes to learn, grow and continue to support our local lands. Focusing on finance and operations, Isabel supports Pepperwood’s growth. She enjoys arts, crafts, hiking and venturing out to our gorgeous coasts on her free days!

BS, UW-Madison (Geography & Environmental Studies)

Kelly grew up in Wisconsin where she spent most of her time outdoors. After graduation, Kelly moved to Sonoma County and fell in love with the diverse landscapes, people, and food. She initially spent 3 years in the wine industry managing data entry, record keeping, and compliance. Kelly became a California Naturalist, which led her to pursue a career that blends her “data nerd” side with her passion for conservation science and connecting people to their environment. As Pepperwood’s Business Systems Analyst, Kelly provides administrative support to the Operations, Communications, Development team. In her free time, Kelly loves camping, cooking, and board games.

Clint is the descendant of several important local culture bearers that include the late Laura Fish Somersal and the late Mabel McKay. He is a Native speaker of the Wappo language and he also speaks some Pomo and is himself a culture bearer with extensive Native historical knowledge, not only of Pepperwood but also of the entire region. McKay is a born naturalist with a deep understanding of plant communities and traditional Wappo methods of nurturing them. He is a gifted basket weaver and he serves on the Board of the California Indian Basket Weavers Association. McKay is also a traditional Wappo spiritual leader and he is the headman of a traditional dance group. McKay has a Master’s Degree in Indigenous Education.

MS, Purdue University (Plant Biology)

Having grown up in Sonoma County, Michelle Halbur greatly values the biodiversity of the region and is honored to work on conservation and land management research at Pepperwood. She has an M.S. from Purdue University where she studied the conservation genetics and ecology of a rare vernal pool plant that occurs in the Santa Rosa Plain, Sebastopol meadowfoam. Since 2011, Michelle has served as Pepperwood’s Preserve Ecologist where she oversees Pepperwood’s Community Science and Visiting Scholars programming. She advises Pepperwood’s land stewardship activities and manages on-site research projects including long-term forest and grassland monitoring, plant phenology, breeding bird surveys, the Stephen J. Barnhart Herbarium, and more. Michelle also helps to translate Pepperwood’s science for a variety of audiences, including professionals, students, and the public. She is on the boards of the California Native Plant Society, Milo Baker Chapter, and the California Native Grassland Association, as a Director-at-large serving for 2021-2022, as well as the Grasslands Journal Chair.

Publications

Cove, M., et al. 2020. SNAPSHOT USA 2019: the first coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States. Ecology.

Halbur, M.M., T.L. Comendant, N. Barden, A.L. Whipple, and E. Micheli. 2020. Annual Point Count Breeding Bird Survey at Pepperwood Preserve in the California Coast Ranges 2007-2019 ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/65b2df11b736c5b51d5fad90dc4a08e9.

Bartosh, H., B. Peterson, M.M. Halbur, T.L. Comendant, A.L. Whipple, and E. Micheli. 2020. Post-Tubbs Fire Chaparral Floristic Survey at Pepperwood Preserve in the California Coast Ranges 2018-2019 ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/958a452d488a54100965e99ecda28fd8.

Townsend, S., S. Hammerich, and M. Halbur. 2020. Wildlife occupancy and trail use before and after a park opens to the public. California Fish and Wildlife, Recreation Special Issue, 74-94.

Halbur, M., S. Berleman, M. Gillogly, D. Friedfel, and T. Comendant. 2019. Oak woodland regeneration in fuel treatment areas before and after the 2017 Tubbs Fire, Sonoma County, CA. International Oaks, Journal of the International Oak Society’s Conference Proceedings. 30:153-160.

Comendant, T., R. Ferrell, M. Halbur, M. Gray, S. Hammerich, and L. Micheli. 2019. A climate ecosystem sentinel site, Pepperwood Preserve, Sonoma County, CA. A technical report prepared by the Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA, for the National Science Foundation, Field Stations and Marine Labs Grant #1624447.

Hammerich, S., M. Halbur, L. Micheli, T. Comendant, and S. Townsend. 2018. Benefits and lessons learned by engaging citizen scientists in camera trapping and monitoring. The Wildlife Society’s 25th Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH, October 2018.

Gillogly, M., C. Dodge, M. Halbur, L. Micheli, C. McKay, N. Heller, and B. Benson. 2017. Adaptive Management Plan for Pepperwood Preserve, Sonoma County, CA. A technical report prepared by the Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA, for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Herniman, W., M. Halbur, and L. Micheli. 2017. Comparison of oak phenology between a drought year (WY 2014-2015) and an El Niño year (WY 2015-2016) at Pepperwood Preserve, Sonoma County, CA. Northern California Botanists Conference, Chico, CA, January 2017.

Oldfather, M.F., M.N. Britton, P.D. Papper, M.J. Koontz, M.M. Halbur, C. Dodge, A.L. Flint, L.E. Flint, and D.D. Ackerly. 2016. Effects of topoclimatic complexity on the composition of woody plant communities. Annals of Botany, plw049. http://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw049.

Townsend, S.T., S. Hammerich, M. Halbur, and L. Micheli. 2016. Wildlife abundance and trail use: North Slope Sonoma Mountain Study. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA, for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.

Funke, S., J. Robinson, N. Barden, M. Halbur, and L. Micheli. 2016. Pepperwood’s TeenNat: diverse teens contributing to conservation science. Organization of Biological Field Stations Conference, Sitka, AK, September 2016.

Herniman, W., M. Halbur, and L. Micheli. 2016. Comparison of oak phenology between a drought year (WY 2014-2015) and an El Nino year (WY 2015-2016) at Pepperwood Preserve, Sonoma County, CA. University of California Naturalist Conference, Running Springs, CA, September 2016.

Townsend, S. E., L. Micheli, and M. Halbur. 2016. Using the Wildlife Picture Index to measure ecosystem health and connectivity. Organization of Biological Field Stations Conference, Sitka, AK, September 2016.

Hoeft, E., Rockwood, P., and M. Halbur. 2016. Influence of soil moisture on phenology and species distribution in Pepperwood Preserve. Santa Rosa Junior College MESA Program Session, Santa Rosa, CA, May 2016.

Halbur, M., E. R. Micheli, and S. Funke. 2015. Combining people, place and science: lessons learned from citizen science at Pepperwood. Poster presentation at Citizen Science Association, San Jose, CA.

Funke, S., M. Halbur, N. Barden, C. Dodge, J. Robinson, and L. Micheli. 2014. Pepperwood’s TeenNat Diverse Youth Contributing to Conservation Science. Poster presentation at Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship Conference, Washington, DC.

Gillogly, M., M. Halbur, C. Dodge, and L. Micheli. 2014. The Pepperwood Conservation Grazing Pilot Project: Managing for complexity in our coastal California grasslands. Poster presentation at California Invasive Plant Council, Chico, CA.

Halbur, M. M., C. M. Sloop, M. J. Zanis, and N. C. Emery. 2014. The population biology of mitigation: Impacts of habitat creation on an endangered plant species. Conservation Genetics 15:679–695. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Ackerly, D., M. Oldfather, M. Britton, M. Halbur, and L. Micheli. 2013. Establishment of woodland vegetation research plots at Pepperwood Preserve. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Halbur, M., M. Kennedy, D. Ackerly, L. Micheli, and J. Thorne. 2013. Creating a detailed vegetation map for Pepperwood Preserve. Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative. Dwight Center for Conservation Science at Pepperwood, Santa Rosa, CA.

Townsend, S. E., L. Micheli, and M. Halbur. 2012. Using the Wildlife Picture Index to measure ecosystem health and connectivity. Poster presentation at The Wildlife Society, Reno, NV.

Jensen, M. 2011. Ecological and genetic consequences of habitat mitigation on an endangered California vernal pool plant: Sebastopol meadowfoam (Limnanthes vinculans). M.S. thesis. Purdue University.

Jensen, M., M. Gillogly, M. Kennedy, and L. Micheli. 2011. Monitoring long-term vegetation response to climate change: Setting a baseline. Poster presentation at Organization of Biological Field Stations, Bodega, CA.

Jensen, M., and N. C. Emery. 2010a. Conservation and community among the Santa Rosa Plain vernal pools. Fremontia 38:40–43.

Jensen, M., and N. C. Emery. 2010b. The effect of soil compaction on an endangered California vernal pool plant species Sebastopol meadowfoam (Limnanthes vinculans). Poster presentation at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

BA, Sonoma State University (Environmental Studies: Conservation and Restoration)

Steven is a lifelong resident of Sonoma County. He grew up on a small farm in northwest Santa Rosa and has always had a connection to the land. He was introduced to Pepperwood in 2010 through classes taken at the Santa Rosa Junior College. The preserve captured his interest and he immediately became a Pepperwood volunteer. After taking the California Naturalist classes at the SRJC, he became a Pepperwood Steward and began working on the wildlife camera project. Now a member of the Pepperwood staff, Steven coordinates volunteers, manages data and equipment, and performs field work on the Wildlife Picture Index research project. He has since graduated from SRJC and then Sonoma State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies. Steven enjoys hiking on and off trail in our local hills.

MS, UC Davis (Soils and Biogeochemistry)
BS, UC Davis (Soils and Biogeochemistry)

As a native of Santa Rosa and avid outdoorsman, Ryan has spent much of his free time on the rivers, the wetlands, farmlands and coastal mountain ranges of the Bay Area and greater California. After high school, Ryan attended the University of California – Davis where he earned both his undergraduate degree and a Masters of Science in Soils and Biogeochemistry. His thesis work focused on mapping and modeling regolith thickness for the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas of California, and linking thickness to water storage and its effects on forest susceptibility to drought-induced mortality. As Pepperwood’s Research Technician, Ryan is helping to lay the groundwork for Pepperwood’s rapidly expanding wireless meteorological and soil sensor network, and is in charge of data management and acquisition from these systems.

PhD, UC Berkeley (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)

Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Morgan saw the impacts of development on the diverse wild spaces that make the region unique, and considers biodiversity conservation a lifelong vocation. As a Conservation Analyst at Pepperwood, Morgan uses data about wildlife, climate, and the environment to keep our landscapes connected and resilient. Her PhD research at UC Berkeley showed how human land use shapes where animals live, and has informed regional conservation plans that will help wildlife thrive.

Publications

Stephanie grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she attended University of California, Los Angeles, earning a BS in Geography and Environmental Studies. She started her career working on ecological restoration projects as a field technician, conducting wildlife and botanical surveys. Stephanie has worked with a variety of school-aged children in her career, and recently relocated from the central CA coast, where she worked as an Assistant Site Director at the Boys and Girls club and led educational field trips and outdoor classroom sessions for the youth there. Stephanie’s experience working in Baja, Mexico and in Spain as a tutor helped her realize her career goals: environmental education and restoration. She is excited to ignite passion in our local youth, helping them become the next generation of nature’s stewards. In her spare time, Stephanie likes watching Spanish soap operas, going on outdoor adventures, and dancing with friends.

MEd, University of Washington (Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education)

Summer grew up in Sonoma County and recently relocated back to her hometown after graduating from the University of Washington with a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction focused on Science Education as well as a certificate in Restoration Ecology. She is passionate about native plants, a Certified California Naturalist and brings over three years of teaching bilingual (Spanish/English) students about ecology and the natural world. Summer joins our team after leaving her recent position in the Pacific Northwest, where she worked at an outdoor environmental education center called IslandWood. As a graduate of Humboldt State (where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Globalization), Summer is excited to bring her expertise and interest in California’s unique flora and fauna to our local audiences. In her spare time, Summer enjoys photographing native plants, composting, hiking, playing soccer, learning the ukulele, and creating custom mixed media greeting cards.

Makayla grew up in a farming community in the Sacramento Valley. Always curious about the world around her, she developed a fascination with nature that began on her family’s farm.

Upon arriving in Sonoma County, she began working with Sonoma State University’s (SSU) Center for Environmental Inquiry, where she gained experience in land stewardship, plant identification, and community outreach. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Planning at SSU and has since held a variety of positions that have expanded her knowledge and interest in everything from ecology to environmental justice.

Makayla began as a volunteer at Pepperwood and is now a part of the GrizzlyCorps Fellowship program. As a GrizzlyCorps Fellow, she assists Pepperwood’s Research & Preserve Management Team in its research and land stewardship efforts.

MS, Sonoma State University (Plant Biology)
BA, Long Beach State University (Cultural Anthropology)
BA, Long Beach State University (Spanish)

Cory was born and raised just a few miles from Pepperwood, and spent much of his childhood outdoors. The sound of the creek below his home and the smell beneath the redwoods brought him peace. He found a love for plants working with his mother in her garden which blossomed into a passion for ethnobotany, herbal medicine, horticulture, and land stewardship. After earning a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology and Spanish at Long Beach State University he farmed, worked in construction, and traveled throughout Latin America. He then pursued a Master’s in Plant Biology at Sonoma State University. His thesis research centered around the role of fire and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in black oak woodlands, which was when he first began working with the Native Advisory Council of Pepperwood. It was a great honor for him to assist with this project, and he is truly grateful for the opportunity to work on something of value to this land and its First Peoples. Throughout his work he strived to bridge the worlds of western science and TEK, anthropology, and biology, and to facilitate collaboration between the Native Advisory Council and Sonoma State University. Cory believes that western science and TEK can work cooperatively to assess California’s ecosystems and create unique stewardship plans that account for ongoing climatic and ecological change. He is passionate about getting involved as the community attempts to address questions about wildfire, fuel reduction, and forest health in light of the recent fires. Cory looks forward to working with all members of our community to connect with and collectively steward the land in ways that benefit all life. He believes that knowledge of place and connection to the land can contribute to the collective healing of society and decolonizing society’s perception of land, while simultaneously promoting a cultural shift in society at large. In his free time, Cory also enjoys diverse hobbies that include wildcrafting, woodworking, Muay Thai, dance, studying language, and writing.

Career Certificate, SRJC (Natural Resource Management and Watershed Management)

Growing up in the Black Forest of Germany, Sonja developed a love for nature early in life. She trained and worked as a nurse until she came to live in the US, where she immediately fell in love with California’s varied environments. Sonja’s background is mixed bag of Ecological Restoration, Native Plant Nursery Practices, and Parks and Open Space Operations and Maintenance. After working as a volunteer at Pepperwood for more than two years, she now considers herself proud to be a part of such an exquisite staff. Sonja’s role as Facilities Assistant consists of assisting with a wide variety of preserve management and maintenance tasks.

Ben is an environmental anthropologist and cultural ecologist who specializes in understanding the systems of environmental management that are utilized by Native cultures throughout the world to establish long-term sustainability. With publications in ethnobotany, ethnographic art, and environmental science, Ben is also a well-known public speaker and instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College and Pepperwood. Ben also serves as a museum anthropologist and exhibit curator who has designed four small museums, including the Sarah Jesse Peter Museum at SRJC. As Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ben helps to incorporate the Native environmental perspectives of the Pomo, Miwok, and Wappo into Pepperwood’s long-term planning. Ben’s field research illuminates the preserve’s “prehistory” with a focus on the ancient obsidian tools found at Pepperwood’s cultural sites.