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When I stepped into my role at ̽����ѡ in March, I became the first woman to hold the title of president in ̽����ѡ’s 116-year history. Two months later I was asked to become its first woman interim CEO. So it feels appropriate that the first issue of ̽����ѡ magazine published after my arrival is also the inaugural year of the Female Bird Prize in the ̽����ѡ Photography Awards. (The winning photo also happened to be taken by a woman photographer.) I am thrilled to become part of the ̽����ѡ network and have the chance to work alongside each and every one of you.

I wanted to take this space to briefly introduce myself and share why I joined ̽����ѡ in this leadership role. In a very real sense, I have returned to my roots. I began my career with birds, first studying homing pigeon navigation as an undergraduate, and then spending time in eastern Washington State studying Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds for my doctoral thesis work. I learned early on that calamity can strike swiftly: During my first field season, both species of blackbird filled the landscape with their unique songs. But the second year, the Yellow-headed Blackbirds did not return to their breeding marshes. This moment was my personal wake-up call. I knew something wasn’t right. And I decided to devote my career to conservation. After I finished my Ph.D., I worked in academia and in government and—for the bulk of my career—in conservation organizations, most recently heading up The Nature Conservancy’s global climate strategy.

What drove my interest in joining ̽����ѡ is all of you and your dedicated advocacy on behalf of birds and the communities we share—the power you have to influence conservation outcomes and address climate change is unmatched. A lot of that would not have happened without the leadership and vision of David Yarnold, ̽����ѡ’s most recent president and CEO. I want take a moment to thank David for helping refocus ̽����ѡ and make it into the powerhouse conservation organization it is today. 

As we map the future for this next chapter of ̽����ѡ’s history, I look forward to building the next generation of ̽����ѡ, where we cultivate new audiences and where differences are respected, valued, and essential to mission success. I am profoundly fortunate that my start at ̽����ѡ coincided with that of Jamaal Nelson, ̽����ѡ’s new chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. I look forward to the many things we can accomplish together—at the member, chapter, organizational, and hemispheric level—to make ̽����ѡ and the world a better, safer, and more just place for people and birds. 

This piece originally ran in the Summer 2021 issue as “New Member of the Flock.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by .