STAFF & ASSOCIATES
S.P.E.C.I.E.S. currently has more than 34 staff and associates working to implement our programs in more than 10 countries. We are fortunate to be working with some of the most dedicated established, emerging, and student conservation professionals in the world. Check back here as we feature our staff and associates from around the world.
Anthony Giordano – Founder, Director, & Chief Conservation Officer
Anthony J. Giordano is a conservation biologist and wildlife ecologist with more than 25 years of experience working in as many countries around the world. He holds a double B.Sc. from Long Island University at Southampton College in Biology (Zoology) and Environmental Science (Biology), where he completed an honors thesis studying the relationships between shark communities and marine fish species diversity in Fiji, The Cook Islands, and the Kingdom of Tonga. He received his M.Sc. in conservation biology and applied ecology from the University of Maryland at Frostburg State, where his thesis work involved studying the feeding ecology of reintroduced river otter populations in northcentral Pennsylvania. While at Texas Tech pursuing his Ph.D. in wildlife science and management, Anthony was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for this jaguar conservation work in the Gran Chaco. His research at Tech as a Panthera Kaplan Scholar led to the first ever formal scientific investigation of the jaguar in Paraguay and the Chaco Jaguar Conservation Project, the only long-term transboundary conservation project committed to resolving human-jaguar conflict, ecological investigations and surveys of jaguars, and jaguar conservation planning and strategy implementation, in the vast Gran Chaco landscape.
Over his career, Anthony has participated in dozens of field research and conservation projects on a variety of taxa and ecological communities. His travels and work have taken him to the wilds of Thailand, French Guiana, Australia, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Borneo among many others, and he has published and co-published dozens of scientific papers and popular articles on threatened and endangered species, particularly mammalian carnivores and tropical forest vertebrates. Anthony regularly conducts scientific peer-reviews for no fewer than 10 scientific journals, serves on the Board of Directors for the Latin American (LACA) section of the Society for Conservation Biology and the American Society of Mammalogist’s Conservation Committee, and is the new President of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association. He is a member of the Explorer’s Club, the Sigma Xi Scientific Society, and the IUCN’s Cat Specialist Group, Small Carnivore Specialist Group, and Peccary Specialist Group.
Today Anthony is one of the principle drivers behind new projects ideas for S.P.E.C.I.E.S., and is often involved in everything from the management and design of activities and projects, the recruitment of new collaborators, the training of new personnel, fundraising and sponsorship, and of course, the science that is the organization’s bedrock. In fact, Anthony’s long and successful career as a both a scientist and conservation professional make him a rare executive director among today’s wildlife conservation organizations. His position reflects the broad commitment S.P.E.C.I.E.S. has to integrating science and a diverse knowledge of global conservation priorities, into the leadership of our organization, and a framework for effective top-down decision-making. Finally, Anthony’s energy and ideas are essential to overcome the challenges in growing our organization’s reach and conservation impact. The diverse background and experience he will draw upon will keep our program flexible and broadly integrative as he guides our mission into the future.
Th
armalingam Ramesh – India Program Director
Tharmalingam Ramesh is S.P.E.C.I.E.S Western Ghats Research Project Coordinator. He has over 14 years of experience working with carnivores in India and South Africa. In India he studied the effect of human disturbance on large carnivores; his research focused on tigers, leopards and the Asiatic wild dog. Now he leads research into human-large carnivore conflict in the Western Ghats, with the aim of creating educational outreach among local populations which will mitigate the problem.
Eric Djomo Nana – Cameroon Program Director
Eric Djomo Nana holds a Ph.D in Ecology from Charles University in Prague in the Czech Republic and an MSc in Parasitology from the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. He has a second MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment from CRESA FORET-BOIS of the University of Dschang in Cameroon and presently works as a research associate of the Congo Basin Institute of the University of California Los Angeles. He is also a lecturer at the Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Diego Gustavo Giménez – CJCP, Paraguay, Program Coordinator
Diego has five years of experience working at the Environment Secretariat of Paraguay, where he collaborates in the development of manage plans for endangered species in his country, and coordinates the management plan of Panthera onca. Also, he is Vice-president of the Paraguayan Association of Mammalogy and a certified biologist and specialist in Conservation Biology, graduated in the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the National University of Asunción.
Ashish Bashyal – Nepal Program Coordinator
Ashish is a Founder and Director of Biodiversity Conservancy Nepal- a youth led non-profit dedicated to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Nepal. He holds a M.Sc. in Zoology from the Texas Tech University and specializes in applying ecological and genetic techniques for the conservation of endangered wildlife including carnivores. Ashish is a S.P.E.C.I.E.S. Research Project Coordinator for Nepal and is currently developing/ implementing collaborative projects on Fishing cat, Clouded leopard, Snow leopard and pangolins. Additionally, Ashish also has strong passion for reptiles and has been working on conservation of gharials, marsh crocodiles and snakes in Nepal.
Andrés Felipe Alfonso Reyes – Colombia Program Coordinator
Andrés Felipe is a S.P.E.C.I.E.S Research Project Coordinator. He has 9 years of experience working with neotropical carnivores and other mammal species in Colombia and Brazil. In Colombia, he studied the ecology of neotropical monkeys and big cats in the Magdalena Medio region. Using field methods such as camera trapping, he was able to study and document the presence and abundance of carnivores (including big and small wild cats) throughout different landscapes. In Brazil, as part of his M.Sc degree, he studied the ecology of jaguars, pumas and their prey species in Northern Amazon. Now he is leading a project on jaguar ecology in the Llanos Orientales of Colombia with the aim of developing an ecotourism proposal that focuses on the observation of big cats.
Erik Joaquín Torres-Romero – Southern Mexico Research Coordinator
Erik holds a M.Sc from the College of the South Border in Mexico and a Ph.D from the University of Alcalá. His research focuses on GIS modeling of biogeographic and macroecological patterns, landscape connectivity for the conservation of vertebrates, particularly carnivores, and understanding human impacts and extinction risks at different spatial scales. Erik has joined S.P.E.C.I.E.S. as a research coordinator for southern Mexico programs, where he is developing projects on wild felids to determine if these species are present in several forest fragments. He is also examining ecological characteristics and conservation status with respect to fragmentation and changing land use patterns, in order to identify priority sites for protection across Chiapas.
Miriam Nora Kunde – Program Officer for Sun Bear Conservation
Miriam Nora Kunde has worked with animals for as long as she can remember. She is currently finishing her PhD at Griffith University on ex-situ and in-situ conservation approaches for the Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). Her research integrated phylogeographic, population genetic, and forensic genetic analyses with applications for the detection of animal derivate in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), species management, and reintroduction biology. During her doctoral program, Miriam tutored an urban ecology course for students in a B.Sc. degree program for city planning, where she got to promote the importance of urban biodiversity. She has had the opportunity to work on wildlife projects all over the world, including Australia, southeast Asia, South Africa, and Germany, and involved diverse species ranging from butterflies to dolphins, vultures to turtles, and red deer to binturongs. Miriam also has a background in animal husbandry and zoo keeping, and has worked as a primate keeper in the Netherlands. She is passionate about using media to promote conservation and also holds a Masters in Wildlife Documentary Production (Salford University, UK). Miriam is our new Program Officer for Sun Bear conservation, and is also working with S.P.E.C.I.E.S. to further the conservation of other carnivores native to Borneo and other parts of southeast Asia.
Ronit Amir – People & Wildlife Program, Costa Rica
Ronit Amit is a Costa Rican biologist and wildlife manager. Starting from an initial interest in jaguar ecology, her interest has grown to encompass working with people coexisting with the big cats. She obtained her BSc degree at the University of Costa Rica, and her MSc in Conservation at the National University of her country. Under a Fulbright-LASPAU scholarship, Ronit obtained a PhD on Wildlife Ecology and Conservation with a focus on Human Dimensions. Her interdisciplinary studies and practice aim for the integration of multi-stakeholder interests to avoid conflict and promote collaboration. Currently, Ronit teaches at the University of Costa Rica, while she oversees the People & Wildlife Program, part of a local NGO concerned with socio-environmental justice. Ronit also recruited and maintains the Jaguar Team volunteers that have supported research and extension activities since 2010.
Dr Ximena Velez-Liendo – Program Officer for Andean Bear Conservation & Research
Stefanie Siller 
– Program Director
Stefanie is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology at Columbia University. She has experience working as an outreach coordinator for the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, where she facilitated dialogue between researchers and the local and global community. She also managed the Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs, coordinating educational outreach and promoting a better understanding of conservation and wildlife. She has brought these skills to S.P.E.C.I.E.S. as an Outreach and Education Coordinator.
Nadia Aguilar 
– CJCP Media Coordinator and Communications
Nadia Aguilar worked for more than two years in the Communication Department of the Environment Secretariat of Paraguay where she collaborated directly in the dissemination of the Panthera onca Management Plan, as well as in topics on threatened species in her country. Currently she works in the institutional communication of the Chaco Jaguar Conservation Project (CJCP) for S.P.E.C.I.E.S. She is also finishing a journalism career at the Professional Institute of Arts and Communication (IPAC) in Asunción, Paraguay.
Chelsea Davis – Cameras4Conservation Program Manager
Chelsea has worked with wildlife and wildlife conservation for 8 years. She got her start working with the California Wolf Center overseeing the care of the resident wolves and helping with the ongoing introduction efforts in the American South West and currently works at the San Diego Zoo Safari park. She joined the S.P.E.C.I.E.S. team in 2015 when S.P.E.C.I.E.S and the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leadership program teamed up, the end result would the Cameras4Conservation, Chelsea would stay on to help keep the program going after the initial start-up phase.
Tammy Cloutier – Fundraising and Networking Coordinator
Tammy is an Environmental Studies PhD student at Antioch University New England where she is focusing on human-African painted (or wild) dog interactions. Her children’s book, Painted Dog Pursuit, was recently published in an effort to increase awareness of painted dogs with the proceeds being used to support painted dog research and conservation. She is excited to join S.P.E.C.I.E.S. as a Fundraising and Networking Coordinator and looks forward to using her passion for carnivores, writing, and education to assist humans and wildlife everywhere.
Robin Sutker – Communications Coordinator
Robin has worked with wildlife for ten years in in refuges, rehabilitation centers, and zoos. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from The Pennsylvania State University and an M.A. in Biology from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. Through her master’s program she traveled to Belize, Borneo, and Namibia, and her Master Plan focused on resources for megafauna, keepers, and zooquaria. She currently works for The Maryland Zoo with African hoofstock and carnivores and is the chair of The American Association of Zoo Keepers Resource Committee. While a zoo keeper at heart, her other passion is conservation capacity building and community engagement. She joined S.P.E.C.I.E.S. in 2017 to contribute to communication strategies, content development, and social media use.
Brianna Lounsbury – Social Media Officer
Brianna graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a BS in Animal Science and a minor in Sustainability. She grew up with a huge desire to help animals and it was through her unique undergrad program that she discovered her passion for wildlife conservation, particularly through research and policy. Currently, she is waiting to hear back from graduate schools to study international wildlife trade policy, particularly focusing on the illegal ivory trade markets. She recently moved to Destin for an internship at a local wildlife rehabilitation center and zoo. Brianna is excited to join the SPECIES team and to learn more about carnivore conservation efforts.
Matt Weldy – Applied Spatial Ecologist
Matt received his M.Sc. from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. His Master’s research focused on estimating the demographic characteristics and habitat associations of small mammals across a late successional reserve in central Oregon. He has worked with a wide range of taxa and is broadly interested in applying quantitative methods to conservation questions. Matt is currently working on several projects for S.P.E.C.I.E.S., including mapping human-cougar conflict in North America, assessing the impacts of anthropogenic landscapes on carnivores, and modeling the suitability of bear habitat.
Chris Bobryk – Applied Spatial Ecologist
Chris is a landscape ecologist, science writer, and rugby player with over 10-years of experience in natural resource management. He received a Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Missouri and specializes in developing spatial tools to help guide and diversify forestry, wildlife, and agricultural management options under varying environmental pressures. Chris is using his expertise in geospatial modeling to help S.P.E.C.I.E.S. quantify deforestation rates in the Gran Chaco and identify priority areas for advancing conservation efforts.