STAFF

Junko Bryant
Co-Executive Director

Junko (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2009 to launch the Redwood Grove restoration project, and held various positions in the organization before stepping into the Co-Executive Director role, where she is currently focusing on staff and program management, and development and implementation of the strategic plan and DEI action plan. She has a special interest in how cities intersect with nature and continues to oversee urban projects in Redwood City, East Palo Alto, and Palo Alto. Junko holds a B.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University and a Master of Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Alex Von Feldt
Co-Executive Director

Alex (she/her) was the Executive Director of Grassroots Ecology when the organization was founded in 2016. As of 2023, Alex became Co-Executive Director with Junko Bryant, creating a shared leadership structure. Alex oversees funding and financial management, and she enjoys enabling new programs that improve local biodiversity, engage the community and advance equity - all at the same time. Alex has experience as a project manager in the fields of business consulting and software development and has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Paola Bueno
Project Lead

Paola (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in winter 2021 as a college intern. Prior to joining, she worked as an interpretive aid for the East Bay Regional Parks where she had her first encounters with the outdoors, which led to her interest in restoration and environmental justice. As a lifetime Bay Area resident, Paola is excited to be a part of restoration projects in urban areas and hopes to outreach disadvantaged communities and help create positive experiences with nature and the land.

Fran Callan
Business Director

Fran, an experienced start-up professional, joined Grassroots Ecology in 2018. She brings to the position an extensive background in community service, as well as prior experience establishing a non-profit organization. Fran enjoys the outdoors and is a strong believer in working to preserve our California native environments. She has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Hannah Cunningham
Ecologist II

Hannah (she/her) holds a B.A. in Political Science from NYU, and has a background in sustainable economic development and nonprofit administration. She moved toward environmental work in recent years through volunteering at Grassroots Ecology events and participating in its 2017 California Naturalist Certification Program, prior to becoming an employee of Grassroots Ecology in 2019. Look for her on the trails of the Peninsula’s parks and open spaces!

Kate Dolkas
Development Director

Before joining the Grassroots Ecology team in 2020, Kate (she/her) supported grantmaking for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and served as the Development Director for Paso Pacífico, a NGO restoring the dry tropical forest of Nicaragua through science, conservation and education. Kate grew up in Texas, but has spent the last 17 years adventuring throughout the West, cultivating a love of the outdoors and an appreciation for open space. She has a B.S. in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis and a M.S. in Bioregional Planning and Community Design from the University of Idaho.

Halle Donovan
California Climate Action Corps Member

Halle (she/her) recently joined the Grassroots Ecology team as a California Climate Action Corps Fellow. She fell in love with the outdoors as a kid, camping and catching newts throughout California’s state parks. Halle graduated with a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley, focusing on Landscape Ecology and Management. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and befriending the cats in her neighborhood.

Linsey Edmunds
Development Associate

Linsey (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in the spring of 2024. Before taking on the role of Development Associate, Linsey worked as the Sustainability Coordinator for a liberal arts college in New England. During that time, she also helped run a small sheep farm and manage both forested and pasture lands. Linsey graduated from Ohio University with a M.S. in Environmental Studies, MPA and B.A. in International Studies. She conducted her thesis research on transboundary conservation efforts in the Balkans. However, Linsey's love for learning about and protecting our environment started earlier with various experiences working in environmental education, land stewardship, and local agriculture. 

Claire Elliott
Senior Ecologist Emeritus

Prior to joining Grassroots Ecology in 2006, Claire spent 30 years as an environmental scientist and engineer, including work with the USEPA and EOA, Inc. on industrial and stormwater pollution. In her non-profit work, she developed a volunteer monitoring program for the Stevens Creek Watershed, wrote pollution prevention procedures for coffee processors in Nicaragua, and was an environmental educator at Hidden Villa. Claire has a B.S. in biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, one year of freshwater ecology studies at the University of Uppsala, Sweden, and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford.

Tyler Feld
Project Manager

Tyler’s (he/him) love of the outdoors began from early childhood experiences exploring the oak woodlands of Southern California and the pine forests of the Sierra Nevadas. As a teenager with a career goal to “protect the trees,” he pursued a B.A. Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. Following his degree, Tyler spent 5 years teaching and directing overnight outdoor education programs throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas to share his love of the outdoors with youth. His continued love of ecology and stewardship led him to start with Grassroots Ecology in 2021.

Deanna Giuliano
Nursery Director / Botanical Consultant

Deanna has nurtured thousands of native plants since taking the reins of our nursery in 2006, including rolling out new protocols to ensure pathogen-free nursery stock. She has served as president of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, and remains active in CNPS initiatives such as Rare Plant Treasure Hunts. Deanna previously worked for Central Coast Wilds and the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. She has an A.S. in Horticulture from Cabrillo College and a B.A. in Environmental Studies/Biology with an emphasis in Plant Ecology from UC Santa Cruz.

Claire Grist
Project Manager

Before joining Grassroots Ecology in 2018, Claire (she/her) was working on Catalina Island at the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program where she led volunteer programs in habitat restoration, invasive species removal, trail building, and garden design. Claire has also had many exciting seasonal work opportunities including building autonomous homes with Earthship Biotecture, leading a trail crew in the backcountry of Olympic National Park, and sailing a 125-foot schooner from Maine to Cuba. Claire has her Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon.

Stanley Gu
Ecologist II

Growing up in the Bay Area, Stanley (he/him) developed an obsession with the local flora and bringing biodiversity back to our urban areas. He participated in Grassroots Ecology's California Naturalist Certification Program in 2021 and joined as a Watershed Stewards Program Corpsmember later that year. In his free time, he enjoys propagating native plants and sharing his love of botany with others. Stanley has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University.

Paul Heiple
Botanist Emeritus

Paul is a naturalist, interested in all aspects of science in the natural world. He is an active member of the California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, San Mateo County Weed Management Area, and Portola Valley Conservation Committee. He also volunteers as head Friday weeder at Edgewood County Park and at Jasper Ridge where he participates in the biannual ant survey. A geologist by training, Paul worked for Getty Oil Company exploring for oil in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. Paul retired from Grassroots Ecology in August 2019 but continues to support our programs in a consultative and educational capacity.

Natalie Jagoda
California Climate Action Corps Member

Natalie (she/her) recently joined Grassroots Ecology as a 2024-25 California Climate Action Corps Fellow. She became a certified California Naturalist in 2022 through Grassroots Ecology’s Summer Naturalist Internship. She is always learning about the evolutionary relationships between plants, and is interested in foraging, medicinal uses of plants, species ID, and what she calls “binography” (photography through binoculars). She studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated with a dual B.S. in Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies, and is now also interning with Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful. 

Johanne Larsen
Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member

Jo (she/her) is a California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member with the Grassroots Ecology team for 2024-25. Raised in the Bay Area, she developed a deep connection with the local ecosystem, from the Santa Cruz Coastal Mountain Range to Alviso Slough. An avid hiker, snowboarder, kayaker, and surfer, Jo is passionate about restoring clean waterways for ecosystem health and recreation. Having recently graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science from California State University, Chico, she is eager to engage the community in watershed stewardship initiatives, focusing on projects that enhance ecosystems.

Valerie Lee
Director of Community Engagement

Born and raised in California, Val (she/her) is an advocate for prioritizing diversity in both wildlife and human communities. After learning to care for habitats while earning her B.S. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, she joined Grassroots Ecology in 2016 to manage habitat restoration projects and lead educational events. Now, her focus is to bolster Grassroots Ecology's community engagement strategies to be more inclusive through staff development, programs, partnerships, and outreach. Her goal is to invite community members facing systemic barriers to engage with nearby nature, to support their relationship with land, self, and one another.

Aaron McLin
California Climate Action Corps Member

Aaron (he/him) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2024 as a returning California Climate Action Corps fellow. Growing up in the midwest, he spent a lot of time outdoors with his grandfather fishing, gardening, and mountain biking in the woods. Aaron was a vet tech for over 8 years until he decided to shift his career focus to more climate action related work, inspired during a backpacking trip to Machu Picchu. During his first fellowship, Aaron discovered he had a strong passion for habitat restoration and tending to outdoor spaces. In his free time, Aaron enjoys playing basketball, exploring California's vast hiking spots, and cooking.

Saleem Mokatrin
California Climate Action Corps Member

Saleem (he/him) is joining Grassroots Ecology as a 2024 California Climate Action Corps Fellow. Growing up in California, he was able to experience the diverse range of microclimates with a particular appreciation for Yosemite, chaparral shrublands, and redwood forests. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a B.A. in Psychology. Saleem is interested in studying natural systems and people’s place in them. Before coming to Grassroots Ecology, Saleem worked with several non-profits focused on sustainability and environmental justice.

Maya Nagaraj
Restoration Specialist II

Maya (she/they) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2023 as a California Climate Action Corps fellow. She grew up in the Bay Area hiking, riding horses, and learning to love nature. Prior to working for Grassroots Ecology, she worked as a research assistant for a variety of behavioral and population ecology studies. She also spent time in Germany as a scientific researcher and educator, studying evolution and science communication. She holds a B.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity, and a B.A. in Classical Civilizations, from UC Davis.

Isabella (Bella) Nishihira
Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member

Bella (she/her) is a California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member with the Grassroots Ecology team for 2024-25. Born and raised in the East Bay, she fell in love with the outdoors from a young age doing activities such as camping, hiking and biking. She recently graduated from San José State University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Environmental Restoration. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong foundation in ecological principles, conservation, and sustainable practices, which she is eager to apply to her career here at Grassroots Ecology.

Shelley Pneh
Ecologist III

Shelley (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2017 to support aquatic insect research, creek monitoring, and habitat restoration. She is concurrently an aquatic entomologist at UC Berkeley assisting researchers studying food web interactions in the South Fork Eel River and its tributaries. She holds a degree in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Entomology from UC Berkeley.

Stephanie Saffouri
Project Lead

Stephanie is interested in urban ecology and creating connections between communities and their natural spaces. A Bay Area native, she is excited to apply her field ecology background to her local community. Stephanie has done research in a wide range of habitats from salt marshes to the Hawaiian rainforest. She has a B.A. in biology from Pomona College and an M.S. in biology from San Francisco State University.

Emily Sharp
Operations Director

Emily (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2019 as a Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellow supporting restoration at Byrne Preserve and Redwood Grove. A Colorado native and lover of hiking and camping, Emily has a passion for land conservation and environmental education. Prior to joining Grassroots Ecology, she worked in development and communications at the Pacific Forest Trust in San Francisco. She holds a degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Vanderbilt University.

Meili Stanten
California Climate Action Corps Member

Meili (she/her) is excited to be joining Grassroots Ecology as a 2024-25 California Climate Action Corps Fellow! She recently graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Science in Society with a Chemistry minor. Born and raised on the East Coast, Meili moved west to explore her interest in conservation, as she has always been inspired by those working to combat the effects of climate change. Constantly drawn to the outdoors, her hobbies include hiking, camping, tossing around a frisbee, foraging for mushrooms, and discovering new crafty projects. 

Brian Tatsuta
Restoration Specialist

Brian (he/him) joined Grassroots Ecology as a Habitat Restoration Intern in 2022 while pursuing a degree in Horticulture. As a lifelong Bay Area resident, he developed his love for nature by exploring the vast amount of open spaces that this region has to offer. Prior to working as a full time staff member, Brian participated in the California Youth Leadership Corps, where he built his skills in community organizing. He is excited to put these skills to use by building community and promoting diversity in the outdoors. In his free time, Brian enjoys hiking, kayaking, fishing, and growing native plants for his garden.

Siena Watson
Project and Nursery Lead

Siena (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2019 as a Watershed Stewards Program Corpsmember. She loves learning about locally native plants and connecting people to nature through plants. Prior to joining Grassroots Ecology, she studied marine food webs as a Marine Laboratory Research Assistant with Point Blue Conservation Science and was a summer intern with Grassroots Ecology in 2018. She holds a B.S. in Marine and Coastal Science from UC Davis.

Laurel Wee
Project Manager

Laurel (she/her) is an alumnus of UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, where she specialized in Conservation Planning with an Environmental Communication focus. While at Bren, she worked with Parks California as a Resource Stewardship Intern and researched tools used by park planners to balance public access and resource protection. Previously, Laurel worked in environmental education for four years as a Teacher and then as a Program Director. She received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from UC Santa Cruz. Laurel is passionate about environmental stewardship that connects community engagement, education opportunities, and climate solutions. She joined Grassroots Ecology as a Project Lead for the Redwood City sites in January 2023.

Kristen Williams
Habitat Restoration Director

Kristen (she/her) first developed her love of the outdoors growing up in the North Coast town of Mendocino. Prior to joining Grassroots Ecology in 2013, she was a nursery assistant at Flowers by the Sea in Mendocino County and an intern at the Filoli gardens in Woodside. While earning her degree in Geography/Environmental Studies from UCLA, Kristen interned at the non-profit TreePeople and worked with the Department of Geography to begin restoring the last remaining plot of native vegetation on campus.

Anna Maria Brodkey
she/her

Daisy Castillo
she/her

Ruby Choy-Angulo
she/her

Kapewa Hopfe
he/him

Xen Lapshin
he/they

Wren Leader
he/they

Akira Nishikawa
he/him

Ezikio Serna