Key Program Staff

Sherry Adams is the Bouverie Preserve Project Leader for Audubon Canyon Ranch. She earned a master's degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology at Frostburg State University/University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley. Her graduate research focused on the impact of an invasive grass on plant communities. Sherry brings to Audubon Canyon Ranch a decade of natural resources field experience with an emphasis on plant inventorying to support research questions, along with significant experience in fire ecology. At the Bouverie Preserve, Sherry heads up the vernal pool restoration project and implements a variety of invasive control projects. She represents Audubon Canyon Ranch in Sonoma County vernal pool collaborations.

Emiko Condeso is Research Coordinator for Audubon Canyon Ranch. She has a Master's Degree in Biology/Landscape Ecology from Sonoma State University and a dual B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. Emiko's research interests include understanding how spatial patterns, particularly in human-altered landscapes, influence biological communities. Her graduate work focused on Sudden Oak Death and examined the role of the spatial pattern of host woodland on disease dynamics. At the Cypress Grove Research Center, Emiko manages Audubon Canyon Ranch's long-term biological monitoring projects and collaborates with staff and partners in conservation research. She is an active member of the local conservation GIS community.

Daniel Gluesenkamp, Ph.D is the Habitat Protection and Restoration Specialist for Audubon Canyon Ranch and leads in the development, implementation, and evaluation of conservation and restoration projects at ACR preserves. His work involves experimental evaluation of management techniques, oversight of stewardship activities such as control of invasive alien species, and collaboration with neighboring land owners and agencies to protect ACR lands. Daniel's research focuses on the factors structuring plant communities, particularly as related to the invasion and spread of introduced species, with work in habitats ranging from desert riparian zones to subalpine Sierran meadows. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley with research that revealed how populations of native and alien thistles are shaped by plant competition, by insect herbivory, and by effects of habitat productivity on the relative intensity of competition versus herbivory.

Gwen Heistand has been Resident Biologist at ACR's Bolinas Lagoon Preserve since August of 2002. She has a Master's Degree in Environmental Science & Management / Applied Ecology from UC Santa Barbara. Her graduate work focused on assessing cumulative impacts of land use on coastal wetland watersheds. Gwen has taught field and lab classes for both UC Santa Barbara and the College of Marin in limnology, invertebrate zoology, parasitology, mammalogy, introductory biology, and marine biology. She was curator for the invertebrate collection at UCSB's Museum of Ecology and Systematics. Gwen teaches classes to volunteers in all aspects of natural history and works with the ACR science staff on research and resource management programs specific to the Bolinas Lagoon Preserve as well as the larger family of ACR preserves. Gwen sits on the Bolinas Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee and the Sanctuary Advisory Council for the Gulf of the Farallones.

John P. Kelly, Ph.D, serves as the Director of Conservation Science and Habitat Protection for Audubon Canyon Ranch. He develops and oversees programs in conservation research, ecological restoration, and natural resources management on Audubon Canyon Ranch lands and associated systems, such as Tomales Bay. His scientific interests focus on habitat relationships, foraging, and energetics of coastal and estuarine birds, and on the breeding biology of herons and egrets in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also works on local and regional conservation issues, and serves on the Tomales Bay Watershed Council and the Tomales Bay Advisory Committee. Before coming to ACR in 1988, John worked as a biologist and educator for several public and private organizations, including the U. S. Forest Service, Humboldt State University, the National Audubon Society, Santa Rosa Junior College, and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. He holds a doctorate in Ecology from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in Wildlife from Humboldt State University.

John Petersen began as the Bouverie Preserve Biologist in 1985. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science for California State University, Chico, a Master's degree in Biology from Sonoma State University, and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Francisco. He became ACR's Associate Director in 1997, and also serves as the Bouverie Preserve Manager.

Maurice A. "Skip" Schwartz, ACR's Executive Director, began working for Audubon Canyon Ranch in 1975. Skip's relationship with Audubon Canyon Ranch began when he and his wife took the docent training at Bolinas Lagoon Preserve in 1972. Since then, he has become one of California's foremost wildlife sanctuary administrators, providing the organizational leadership and vision necessary to sustain ACR's success.

Christine Rothenbach is the Helen Pratt Research Fellow with ACR's Cypress Grove Research Center. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Science in Ecosystem Science and Management from the University of Northern British Columbia. Her thesis concentrated on the response of nuthatches to habitat restoration efforts within ponderosa pine forest communities in northeastern Oregon. Chris brings seven years of experience as a field biologist to ACR, where she is monitoring heron and egret breeding colonies.

Jeanne Wirka is the preserve biologist/educator at the Bouverie Preserve. She came to ACR from Audubon-California (the state subsidiary of the National Audubon Society) where, as the project ecologist for the Landowner Stewardship Program in Yolo County, she worked with farmers and ranchers to restore and protect wildlife habitat on private lands. She received a Master's Degree in Ecology from U.C. Davis and a B.A. from Harvard University. Her primary area of expertise is in California plant community ecology with a focus on native grasslands, oak woodlands, and riparian habitats. She is a former president of the California Native Grasslands Association and has taught training courses in grassland ecology and restoration since 2000. She has a long history of working with volunteers in a variety of community and ecological projects and especially enjoys providing "hands-on" experience to school-age children. At Bouverie, Jeanne also teaches natural history classes to volunteers and works with the ACR science staff on research and resource management programs specific to the preserve.

Volunteers are also essential to all of Audubon Canyon Ranch's programs. We rely on the knowledge, commitment and experience of a large cadre of trained volunteers who we consider the "heart and soul" of this organization. Learn how to become an ACR volunteer.