Our Team
Lifelong Learning Team
Our lifelong learning staff specialize in instructional design, visitor engagement, teacher training, grassroots community development, and more.
Mya ThompsonCo-Director of Engagement in Science and Nature
Expertise: lifelong learning, instructional design, exhibit design, children’s books- Lyanne Abreu
Youth and Community Engagement Leader
Expertise: environmental education, curriculum development, STEAM learning - Marta del Campo
Latin America Community Engagement Leader
Expertise: environmental education, participatory science, community building - Marla Coppolino
Bird Academy Instructional Designer
Expertise: instructional design, course development, science illustration - Greg Czekaj
K-12 Engagement Coordinator
Expertise: science education, professional development, bird tracking - Chris Foito
Bird Academy Media Producer
Expertise: video editing, video production, videography - Samantha Hauser
Bird Academy Content Leader
Expertise: instructional design, online course production, ornithology - Lisa Kopp
Visitor Experience Leader
Expertise: exhibit design, accessible/universal design, natural history interpretation - Jill Leichter
Bird Academy Editor
Expertise: scientific editing, graphic design, instructional design - Peter Leipzig
Public Programs Coordinator
Expertise: public programming, science education, engagement in science - Susan Licher
K-12 Learning Coordinator
Expertise: science education, professional development, project management - Marilú Lopez-Fretts
Community-based Restoration Leader
Expertise: community building, community science, community-based participatory research - Kevin McGowan
Bird Academy Senior Ornithologist
Expertise: instructional design, bird identification, ornithology - Nia Mitchell
Bird Academy Engagement Specialist
Expertise: student engagement, social media engagement, science communication - Shayna Muller
Bird Academy Media Producer
Expertise: video producing, video editing, science education - Rachel Sirwatka
Vistor Center Assistant
Expertise: visitor support, participant support, youth education - Lee Ann Van Leer
Bird Academy Specialist
Expertise: customer service, participant support, environmental education - Sarah Wagner
Lead Educator for Public Programs
Expertise: public programming, science education, avian ecology - Katherine Welch
Bird Academy Marketing Leader
Expertise: marketing strategy, social media strategy, survey design - David Wiles
Public Information Specialist
Expertise: public engagement, participant support, youth education
Participatory Science Team
Our participatory science staff specialize in ecology, ornithology, social science, and public engagement.
- David Bonter
Co-director of Engagement in Science and Nature
Expertise: participatory science, avian ecology, student research mentorship - Robyn Bailey
NestWatch Project Leader
Expertise: participatory science, avian breeding biology, nesting biology - Heidi Faulkner
Project FeederWatch Community Coordinator
Expertise: participatory science, participant support, feeder birds - Holly Grant
NestWatch Community Coordinator
Expertise: participatory science, participant support, nesting birds - Anne Marie Johnson
Project FeederWatch Community Coordinator
Expertise: participatory science, participant support, feeder birds - Becca Rodomsky-Bish
Garden for Birds Project Leader
Expertise: gardening for wildlife, bird-friendly practices, community engagement - Olivia Sanderfoot
FeederWatch Project Leader
Expertise: participatory science, avian ecology, fire ecology - Kim Savides
Ecological Researcher
Expertise: avian ecology, data management, ornithological field methods
Bird-friendly Action Team
Our bird-friendly team specializes in making the world a safer place for birds via restoring and creating habitat, and supporting people to make bird-friendly choices in their spaces.
- Tina Phillips
Assistant Director of Engagement in Science and Nature
Expertise: participatory science, social science, behavioral science - Shelby Carlson
Conservation Social Science Researcher
Expertise: social science, human-wildlife interactions, social norm research - Claire Hebbard
Social Science Research Specialist
Expertise: participatory science, evaluation planning, survey development - Mhairi McFarlane
Bird-friendly Landscapes Leader
Expertise: habitat, restoration, conservation planning, bird-friendly practices - Cady Netland
Coordinator for Bird Safety
Expertise: window strike prevention, bird-friendly practices, community engagement - Becca Rodomsky-Bish
Garden for Birds Project Leader
Expertise: gardening for wildlife, bird-friendly practices, community engagement
Research Team
Our social science leaders specialize in behavioral science, participatory science, human-wildlife interactions, and accessibility studies. Our ecological team is at the forefront of using participatory science data to understand coupled-human natural systems. Our experts have diverse specialties. Because much of our work is at the intersection of human-bird interactions we frequently collaborate together in cross-disciplinary research.
- David Bonter
Co-director of Engagement in Science and Nature
Expertise: participatory science, avian ecology, student research mentorship - Tina Phillips
Assistant Director of Engagement in Science and Nature
Expertise: participatory science, social science, behavioral science - Shelby Carlson
Conservation Social Science Researcher
Expertise: social science, human-wildlife interactions, social norm research - Claire Hebbard
Social Science Research Specialist
Expertise: participatory science, evaluation planning, survey development - Kirsty Lauder
Social Science Researcher
Expertise: occupational psychology, neurodiversity studies, organizational accessibility - Kim Savides
Ecological Researcher
Expertise: avian ecology, data management, ornithological field methods
Technology Team
Our technology team builds and maintains our platforms so makes sure you can keep learning and participating.
- Miika Grady
Participatory Science Platform Developer
Expertise: web design, universal design, supporting participation - Lisa Larson
Participatory Science Software Leader
Expertise: participatory science, software development, database design - Josh Pelrine
Application Developer
Expertise: software development, learning platform development, WordPress - Frances Steen
Bird Academy Software Engineer
Expertise: software architecture, database design, software development - Jeff Szuc
Bird Academy Technical and Platform Leader
Expertise: universal design, educational game design, educational platform development - Dan Wilson
Expertise: participatory science, app development, software development
Administration and Finance Team
Our team of administration and finance specialists lead us in grants, contracts, travel, events and more!
- Rachel England
Administrative Lead
Expertise: administrative functions, international partnership support, youth education - Kelly Gardner
Finance Leader
Expertise: financial functions, contracts, budgeting