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.
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!
Kama Dean, Executive Director
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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 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
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Chris Pesenti, Director of Programs
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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
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Jeannel King, Director of Finances and Operations
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| 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
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Giuliana Schroeder, Communications and 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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S. 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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Garrett Lemons, Administrative Assistant
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| Garrett has lived in San Diego for nearly 6 years and during this time he achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with an emphasis on organism and molecular biology from Point Loma Nazarene University. Over the years, Garrett has literally traveled the world and participated in humanitarian and conservation work in the Solomon Islands, India, Panama, Costa Rica, Cuba, Colombia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Garrett’s passion for the ocean and the environment extends well beyond his professional life. His hobbies include countless outdoor activities including swimming, scuba diving, and serving as a lifeguard on beaches throughout the city of San Diego.
email: garrett@propeninsula.org
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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
Middle School Spanish Teacher, The Ross School
Jill Gravender
Vice President of Policy, The Climate Registry
Martin Gammon
Specialist in Books and Manuscripts, Bonhams & Butterfields
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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
Jeffrey Seminoff
Ecologist,NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Advisory BoardMark J. Spalding
Laura Silván
Daniel Durazo
Wallace J. Nichols
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