ABOUT US
The Ocean Foundation is the first community foundation for the oceans. Here, all the philanthropic tools of a community foundation are focused on ocean conservation. Our mission is to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world.
Pro Peninsula is a fund within The Ocean Foundation dedicated to strengthening individual and community efforts to protect the natural environment throughout the Baja California peninsula. It is our fundamental belief that the creation of a network of strong, well-equipped individuals, communities and organizations is the best way to spur environmental and social change. Dedication to this philosophy has distinguished Pro Peninsula and The Ocean Foundation as a conservation leader throughout this globally important eco-region.
Over the years, our efforts have materialized into concrete results and successful conservation stories. Today marks the culmination of our past achievements and future endeavors. We would like to take this opportunity to share, as well as to celebrate, these successes with you!
HISTORY
Pro Peninsula was originally conceived as a master’s thesis at UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. Pro Peninsula began offering support to organizations throughout the Baja California peninsula in September of 2001. Since that time, Pro Peninsula has matured into one of the leading conservation initiatives working on the peninsula, having implemented a wide range of projects throughout the Californias.
Pro Peninsula is led by a dedicated team of staff and advisors with backgrounds in science and research, community-based conservation, international environmental policy and nonprofit management, and is supported by an active and committed membership. Together, our dedicated team has discovered new ways to achieve lasting community-based conservation results.
In July of 2009, Pro Peninsula joined with The Ocean Foundation as a way to strengthen our effectiveness, expand our reach, and make the best use of limited resources. This union, which brought together two of the strongest, most effective organizations working in the area, enhances the conservation work carried out throughout the region.
Become a Pro Peninsula member today!
Kama Dean, Program Officer
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| Kama S. Dean holds a Master's degree in Pacific International Affairs from UCSD's Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies where she concentrated on international environmental policy and Latin America. She has worked extensively on community conservation issues, with a focus on the Baja California peninsula. From 2004 to 2008 she managed the Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, or Sea Turtle Conservation Network of the Californias, overseeing their monitoring, education and network building programs. Kama continues to work closely with the organization, serving as the President of the Board of Directors. She has also worked with several environmental organizations on grantwriting and fundraising, policy research, event planning and coordination and organizational development.
email: kama@propeninsula.org
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Giuliana Schroeder, Communications & Marketing Manager
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Giuliana Schroeder (Gigi) was raised both in San Diego, CA and Cuernavaca, Mexico. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Humanities from Soka University, focusing her senior thesis on environmental philosophy and education. She worked with Pronatura Mexico A.C. as a Communications and Publications Consultant for two years, contributing greatly to their overall outreach and education departments. She has offered her services for several nonprofit organizations throughout the years, such as through research and in building awareness campaigns. And besides her passion for nature, she also is captured by the art world, having more than 10 years of painting experience.
email:gigi@propeninsula.org
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Frances Kinney, Education Coordinator
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| Frances was raised in Ojai, California, and currently holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Her studies focused on endangered species protection, and Frances has experience in wildlife education, restoration projects, and ecological conservation. Her passion for the environment and experience with kids makes her the ideal candidate to carry out Pro Peninsula's Ocean Connectors program.
email: frances@propeninsula.org
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Dr. Hoyt Peckham, Field Research Director
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Hoyt Peckham is a PhD student in Biology and CILS Science Fellow at UC Santa Cruz. Applying his research on the endangered loggerhead turtle, Peckham co-directs Proyecto Caguama, partnering with fishers in Pacific Mexico to reduce by-catch of sea turtles and other marine species. In 1998, Peckham co-founded the Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation, a non-profit that combines research and education to affect marine conservation. His short documentary entitled Caguamas del Pacifico: ¿en las manos de quién? / Pacific Loggerhead Turtles: in whose hands? was honored at two film festivals in 2003. Peckham double-majored in Biology and English Literature at Bowdoin College.
email: hoyt@propeninsula.org
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Alexander Gaos, Conservation Scientist
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| Alexander Gaos brings several years of experience managing sea turtle programs at nesting and foraging programs in Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador. He currently co-directs “Proyecto ¡CAREY!”, a groundbreaking research project aimed at generating information and conserving critically endangered hawksbill turtles in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Having spent much of his childhood abroad, he brings an adept ability to work with an amalgam of people from an array of cultures and backgrounds. Alexander earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from California State University, East Bay and is currently a Master’s student in Conservation Ecology at San Diego State University.
email: gaos@propeninsula.org
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