STAFF
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Nancy H. DeStefanisFounder and Executive Director
Nancy is an environmental educator, field ornithologist and lecturer. She discovered the first documented nesting of great blue herons in the city of San Francisco in 1993 and monitored the colony for the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.
She is a firm believer in the philosophy of Mrs. Elizabeth Terwilliger, renowned founder of Marin County environmental education programs for youth: "Teach a child to love nature because adults take care of the things they love." With these words in mind, Nancy created environmental education programs for kindergarten through 5th grades in San Francisco schools, starting in year 2000. Nancy has lectured on natural history and wildlife throughout the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Botanical Garden (Strybing Arboretum), Randall Science Museum (San Francisco) California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Public Library and Oakland Museum. She has taught Adult and Junior Academy classes at the California Academy of Sciences and Audubon Canyon Ranch.
She is the narrator of the DVD "Heron Island" (1998-IDG films) directed by Emmy award winner Judy Irving. She also narrarates and co-stars in the new short film "Great Blue Herons of Golden Gate Park, directed by Rick Bacigalupi for Bay Nature Magazine on the Air. She is the director and producer of the short film "Above the Nests," the story of a Marin Audubon Society volunteer, Helen Pratt's 30 year study of the egrets and herons at Audubon Canyon Ranch. Nancy is the co-author of the song (with Sharon Walters) "My Blue Herons." Nancy was named outstanding volunteer by San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory and in 2005, received the Jefferson Award for Public Service. Nancy was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1980. Her experience also includes serving as a community organizer for the United Farm Workers Union and as Executive Director of California Women's Lawyers. |
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Sam BertkenNewsletter Layout and Graphics
Sam Bertken is a multi-faceted creative based in the Inner Sunset of San Francisco. Ever since he was a kid, he's had a great appreciation for the natural beauty of Golden Gate Park and is happy to be supporting the mission of SFNE. You can see more of his work at sambertken.com.
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Joy ChangSocial Media Consultant
More information is coming soon.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Omeed TavasoliSecretary
Omeed Tavasoli is Secretary of the Board of SF Nature. Omeed is a detail-oriented and mission-driven professional with experience coordinating teams, communicating to the public, and driving outcomes who brings skills greatly suited for the Secretary role.
Omeed is deeply passionate about SF Nature’s mission of educating the public on birds and other local fauna. He has participated in a number of volunteer outings, including Heron watch events and a field trip to Strawberry Hill. When he's not participating in SFNE field trips, he conducts his own birding endeavors, frequently exploring Golden Gate Park to further develop his knowledge of the wildlife. |
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Janel SchulenbergTreasurer
Janel has over 30 years of working in finance which is beneficial to her new role as Treasurer of San Francisco Nature Education.
Janel has volunteered for the SFNE Heron Watch since 2014, introducing children and adults to our programs. She loves working with the interns, learning from them, and then watching them graduate at the end of each Heron Watch. Her favorite time during Heron Watch is seeing the faces of people while she shows them the nest with chicks close up via our scopes. Their eyes light up with excitement as they view the chicks in the nest. Most people don't know about the wonders of Stow Lake at Golden Gate Park. Janel also leads groups for Birding for Families and trains new volunteers. With Nancy's help, we can show the public nature at its finest, and it's in their own backyard! |
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Nancy H. DeStefanisExecutive Director
Nancy first discovered the Great Blue Herons in 1993 and it became her mission to share her passion for the birds with school children as well as the broader community.
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Advisory Board
Mary Rose Cassa - Board Member Emeritus
Kit Durgin - Board Member Emeritus, former Executive Director The Women's Foundation
John P. Kelly, Ph.D. - Director of Research, Audubon Canyon Ranch
Joseph Kinyon - Board Member Emeritus
Kathleen Purcell - Board Member Emeritus, partner Remcho, Johanson, and Purcell
Kit Durgin - Board Member Emeritus, former Executive Director The Women's Foundation
John P. Kelly, Ph.D. - Director of Research, Audubon Canyon Ranch
Joseph Kinyon - Board Member Emeritus
Kathleen Purcell - Board Member Emeritus, partner Remcho, Johanson, and Purcell