The Foundation
Staff
Acting Executive Director
Mark Green joined the Foundation staff in 2003, and has been a conservation professional since 1986. He was founding Executive Director of Sonoma County Conservation Action, which grew under his leadership into the largest environmental organization on the North Coast of California, from 1990 through 2000. Named Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year in 1997, he was a founding director of the Friends of the Russian River and served on the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Advisory Committee.
Research associate
Hattie Brown joined the Foundation staff in October 2008. She first came to Sonoma County to apprentice as a farmer at Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm. Hattie's interests include soil-water-plant interactions as well as community gardening projects and has experience in agricultural and rangeland research. Hattie holds a Master’s degree in Soil Science from UC Davis and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Reed College.
Restoration Project supervisor
Catherine Cumberland joined the Foundation staff in March 2006. She has been the Land Steward at Fairfield Osborn Preserve and has worked at Sonoma State University's Native Plant Garden since 2003. She also worked as SSU’s Volunteer Liaison to the STRAW program, an environmental education program for K-12 schoolchildren. Catherine graduated from SSU in December 2005 with bachelor's degrees in Environmental Studies and Biology.
Administrative Director
Maggie Hart joined the Foundation staff in July 2005. Her background in nonprofit administration includes working for the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, San Francisco's Friends of the Urban Forest and Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Maggie holds an undergraduate degree in Ecology from Evergreen State University.
Director of Education Programs
Christine Fontaine joined the Foundation staff in August 2007. She earned a BA from
Restoration Program Director
Julian Meisler joined the Foundation staff in May 2005. His initial task was implementation of the Ludwigia Control Plan and development of the Middle Reach Restoration Project. Julian worked for the Solano Land Trust for five years where he led a variety of restoration projects, developed conservation strategies for land protection, and oversaw research and management on over 10,000 acres of vernal pools, grasslands, tidal sloughs, and tidal marsh. Julian holds a Master's degree in Botany from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University.
Research Director
Dr. Christina Sloop joined the Foundation staff in June 2006. Using science to address the critical problems facing biodiversity Dr. Sloop’s research program evaluates and constructs workable solutions to issues of invasive species, habitat loss, degradation & connectivity, endangered species recovery, water quality impairment, and sedimentation within the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed. Dr. Sloop holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from UC Davis, and a M.A. degree in Conservation Biology from San Francisco State University. Her extensive experience spans across multiple disciplines and includes research on the conservation ecology of rare and endangered species, the population dynamics of invasive species, conservation ecology and population genetics of vernal pool plant species, public-access impacts on bird diversity, restoration efficacy of riparian plantings, water quality modeling and monitoring, invasive species control, endangered species recovery, and conservation planning.
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