Experts

Defenders’ staff is as diverse and unique as they are dedicated and experienced. Drawing top wildlife biologists, government policy experts, media relations specialists, membership service representatives, lawyers and many more, Defenders of Wildlife puts all of their individual talents to use to achieve our organization’s common goals.

Sort By : Name | Office | Program

Aerial Hunting

Karla M. Dutton Alaska Program Director
Caroline Kennedy Senior Director of Field Conservation
Michael T. Leahy Rocky Mountain Region Director
Sandra Young Purohit Government Relations Associate
Jason C. Rylander Staff Attorney
Wade Willis Alaska Representative


Biodiversity Partners

Kassandra Kelly Media Production Specialist
Gina L. LaRocco Conservation Program Associate
Sara O'Brien Private Lands Conservation Associate
Bruce Taylor Oregon Biodiversity Program Director
Sara Vickerman Senior Director, Biodiversity Partnerships


Compensation Programs

Nina Fascione Vice President for Field Conservation
Gina Schrader Conservation Associate
Suzanne Asha Stone Northern Rockies Representative
Jesse Timberlake Northern Rockies Associate
Wade Willis Alaska Representative


Conservation Economics

Pelayo Alvarez California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Program Director
Frank Casey Director, Conservation Economics Program
Timm Kroeger Natural Resources and Environmental Economist
Anna McMurray Conservation Economics Associate


Conservation Law

Kimberley Delfino California Program Director
Robert Dreher Vice President for Conservation Law
Kara Gillon Senior Staff Attorney
Wm. Robert Irvin Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs
Michael T. Leahy Rocky Mountain Region Director
Erin Lieberman Walter Kuhlmann Legal Fellow
Jason C. Rylander Staff Attorney
Brian Segee Staff Attorney
Sierra B. Weaver Staff Attorney


Conservation Planning Resources

Pelayo Alvarez California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Program Director
Gina L. LaRocco Conservation Program Associate
Bruce Taylor Oregon Biodiversity Program Director
Katie Theoharides Conservation Planning Associate
Sara Vickerman Senior Director, Biodiversity Partnerships
Aimee Weldon Living Lands Project Manager
Patricia A. White Director, Habitat & Highways Campaign


Conservation Science

Pelayo Alvarez California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Program Director
Rick Brown Senior Resource Specialist
J. Christopher Haney Chief Scientist and Vice-President of the Conservation Science and Economics Department


Endangered Species Act

Mary Elizabeth Beetham Director of Legislative Affairs
Jamie Rappaport Clark Executive Vice President
Robert P. Davison Senior Scientist, Endangered Species and Wildlife Conservation
Kimberley Delfino California Program Director
Robert Dreher Vice President for Conservation Law
Kara Gillon Senior Staff Attorney
Wm. Robert Irvin Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs
Peter T. Jenkins Director of International Conservation
Caroline Kennedy Senior Director of Field Conservation
Michael T. Leahy Rocky Mountain Region Director
Erin Lieberman Walter Kuhlmann Legal Fellow
Jason C. Rylander Staff Attorney
Gina Schrader Conservation Associate
Brian Segee Staff Attorney


Energy

Sara Chieffo Government Relations Associate
Aimee Delach Senior Associate for Conservation Science
Sandra Young Purohit Government Relations Associate
Brianne Smith Federal Lands Associate


Farm Bill

Mary Elizabeth Beetham Director of Legislative Affairs
Frank Casey Director, Conservation Economics Program
Sara Chieffo Government Relations Associate
Aimee Delach Senior Associate for Conservation Science
Kimberley Delfino California Program Director
Caroline Kennedy Senior Director of Field Conservation
Katie Theoharides Conservation Planning Associate


Federal Budget

Mary Elizabeth Beetham Director of Legislative Affairs
Noah Kahn Federal Lands Associate


Fresh Water Conservation

Joshua Basofin California Representative
Kimberley Delfino California Program Director
Kara Gillon Senior Staff Attorney
Wm. Robert Irvin Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs
Caroline Kennedy Senior Director of Field Conservation
Jason C. Rylander Staff Attorney
Brian Segee Staff Attorney


Global Warming

Jean Brennan Senior Climate Change Scientist
Rick Brown Senior Resource Specialist
Sara Chieffo Government Relations Associate
Robert P. Davison Senior Scientist, Endangered Species and Wildlife Conservation
Aimee Delach Senior Associate for Conservation Science
Karla M. Dutton Alaska Program Director
J. Christopher Haney Chief Scientist and Vice-President of the Conservation Science and Economics Department
Noah Kahn Federal Lands Associate
Sandra Young Purohit Government Relations Associate
Brian Segee Staff Attorney
Brianne Smith Federal Lands Associate
Sierra B. Weaver Staff Attorney


Habitat and Highways

Brian Segee Staff Attorney
Patricia A. White Director, Habitat & Highways Campaign


International Program

Juan Carlos Cantú Manager, Mexico Programs
Alejandra Goyenechea International Counsel
Peter T. Jenkins Director of International Conservation


Mexico Program

Juan Carlos Cantú Manager, Mexico Programs
Alejandra Goyenechea International Counsel
Peter T. Jenkins Director of International Conservation


National Forests

Mary Elizabeth Beetham Director of Legislative Affairs
Rick Brown Senior Resource Specialist
Robert Dewey Vice President for Government Relations
Michael T. Leahy Rocky Mountain Region Director
Noah Matson Vice President for Land Conservation
Peter Nelson Director, Federal Lands Program
Brian Segee Staff Attorney
Brianne Smith Federal Lands Associate
Sierra B. Weaver Staff Attorney


National Wildlife Refuges

Mary Elizabeth Beetham Director of Legislative Affairs
Noah Kahn Federal Lands Associate
Noah Matson Vice President for Land Conservation
Peter Nelson Director, Federal Lands Program
Sandra Young Purohit Government Relations Associate
Brian Segee Staff Attorney


Ocean and Marine Habitat

Joshua Basofin California Representative
Juan Carlos Cantú Manager, Mexico Programs
Jim Curland Marine Program Associate
Karla M. Dutton Alaska Program Director
Elizabeth Fleming Florida Representative
Sierra B. Weaver Staff Attorney


Other Public Lands

Matt Clark Southwest Representative
Robert Dreher Vice President for Conservation Law
Noah Kahn Federal Lands Associate
Gina L. LaRocco Conservation Program Associate
Michael T. Leahy Rocky Mountain Region Director
Noah Matson Vice President for Land Conservation
Peter Nelson Director, Federal Lands Program
Sandra Young Purohit Government Relations Associate
Brian Segee Staff Attorney
Brianne Smith Federal Lands Associate


Private Lands

Frank Casey Director, Conservation Economics Program
Kimberley Delfino California Program Director
Gina L. LaRocco Conservation Program Associate
Noah Matson Vice President for Land Conservation
Sara O'Brien Private Lands Conservation Associate
Pine Roehrs Living Lands Project Coordinator
Bruce Taylor Oregon Biodiversity Program Director
Jeremy Terhune San Joaquin Valley Representative
Sara Vickerman Senior Director, Biodiversity Partnerships
Aimee Weldon Living Lands Project Manager


State and Local Conservation

Rick Brown Senior Resource Specialist
Kimberley Delfino California Program Director
Elizabeth Fleming Florida Representative
M. Scott Johnson Arizona Senior Outreach Representative
Caroline Kennedy Senior Director of Field Conservation
Marcia Lesky Director of National Outreach
Gina Schrader Conservation Associate
Sara Vickerman Senior Director, Biodiversity Partnerships
Patricia A. White Director, Habitat & Highways Campaign
Wade Willis Alaska Representative


State Wildlife Plans

Joshua Basofin California Representative
Katie Theoharides Conservation Planning Associate
Sara Vickerman Senior Director, Biodiversity Partnerships
Aimee Weldon Living Lands Project Manager
Wade Willis Alaska Representative


Threats to Wildlife

Jean Brennan Senior Climate Change Scientist
Aimee Delach Senior Associate for Conservation Science
Noah Kahn Federal Lands Associate
Caroline Kennedy Senior Director of Field Conservation
Katie Theoharides Conservation Planning Associate