Melissa Pitkin has spent the last 25 years working with scientists and educators to share science and conservation recommendations to inspire action. She has served as an environmental educator, program manager, communications director, and currently serves as chief of staff for Point Blue Conservation, where she is helping to lead organizational success.

Melissa has a passion for environmental/science education and especially for early career training opportunities that build career pathways in the environmental field for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

She has spent time as a field biologist studying songbirds and elephant seals on the Farallon Islands. She initiated Point Blue’s education program drawing from these experiences and oversaw the award-winning STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) Program, which reaches over 4,000 students annually.

Melissa earned a master’s degree in environmental education from Southern Oregon University and a bachelor of science degree in wildlife and conservation biology from UC Davis.

“My passion for, and experience with, environmental education combined with my vision for building inclusion in the field of conservation are why I am excited to join Audubon Canyon Ranch's Board of Directors,” Melissa says.