About Us

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Mission and Vision

Pro Peninsula strengthens individual and community efforts to protect the natural environment throughout the Baja California Peninsula.

One of the world's last truly wild places, the Baja California peninsula is a unique yet threatened environment. Strong environmental organizations are needed to promote social awareness and participation in order to counter the relentless threats to the region's environment, while at the same time promoting sustainable development alternatives.

Pro Peninsula envisions the creation of a network of strong and effective environmental organizations backed by an educated and active public working towards the common goal of environmental preservation. 

History

Conceived from a master's thesis by two visionary students 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 2001. Since then,  Pro Peninsula has matured into one of the leading conservation organizations working on the peninsula, having implemented and engaged in a range of projects throughout the region. Pro Peninsula, established as a 501c3 organization, is lead by a dedicated board with expertise in science, conservation and advocacy, employs staff members in both the U.S. and Mexico experienced in international environmental policy, non-profit management, science, and grassroots conservation, and is supported by an active and dedicated membership. Become a Pro Peninsula member today!

Staff

Chris Pesenti, Co-Director

Chris in Baja

  Chris Pesenti holds a Master's degree in Pacific International Affairs from UCSD's Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies where he studied non-profit management and international environmental policy. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Colorado, Boulder in International Affairs, focusing on Latin America. In addition to his work in the U.S., Chris has worked throughout Latin America in both the public and private sectors. His areas of expertise include operations, proposal design, and project implementation, as well as various aspects of product marketing. Chris first fell in love with Baja California as a teenager and since then has continued his ties to the peninsula.
e-mail: chris@propeninsula.org

Kama Dean, Co-Director

Kama at Laguna San Ignacio

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 effective consulting practices. Her undergraduate study was in Government and Latin American Studies at New Mexico State University. She has worked with non-profit organizations both in the United States and Latin America for over four years. Her specialties include campaign strategy development, fundraising, government relations and research and analysis.
email: kama@propeninsula.org

Jeannel King, Operations Manager

Jeannel at the 2007 Sea Turtle festival in López Mateos

Jeannel King has nearly two decades of experience working with nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego County, with over thirteen of those years directly in nonprofit management roles. She holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. A member of the Society for Organizational Learning, Jeannel is passionate about systems thinking, organizational learning, and process improvement. She is thrilled that her skills and experience will benefit the Baja California peninsula, its waters, and all the life it holds.
email: jeannel@propeninsula.org

Trisha Knight, Membership and Communications Manager

Showing her admiration for Seri sea turtle artwork

Trisha brings marketing, grant writing, and communications skills to her position with Pro Peninsula. Born and raised in Southern California, she’s been fortunate to also spend time abroad, living and working in Germany. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of California at San Diego and loves to spend time with her husband and little girl. An active member of animal interest groups and a vegetarian/vegan for over a decade, her passion for animal welfare and the environment infuses all aspects of her life. She is excited to finally apply her cumulative work experience and personal ideologies into meaningful practice.
email: trisha@propeninsula.org

Frances Kinney, Education Coordinator

Partying with Timmy the Turtle at our Holiday Celebration

Frances was raised in Ojai, California, and currently holds a B.A 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

  S. Hoyt Peckham, Field Research Director

Hoyt 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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Board of Directors

Barbara Andrews, Chair
Project Coordinator, California Academy of Sciences

Jon Avery, Vice Chair
Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Kelly Morphy, Secretary
Spanish Teacher, The Ross School

Dr. Ann Brownlee
Program Director at Graduate School of International Relations UCSD

Martin Gammon
Specialist in Books and Manuscripts, Bonhams & Butterfields


Brian Hutchinson
Coordinator, CABS Sea Turtle Flagship Program, Conservation International

Heather Lane
Foundation Officer, Jhpiego

Tim Means
Founder and President, Baja Expeditions

George Shillinger
Doctoral Candidate in Marine Biology, Block Lab, Stanford University

Advisory Board

Mark J. Spalding
Laura Silvan
Daniel Durazo
Board

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