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| Her shirt says it all. . . |
For the first in a series of staff interviews, we thought we'd ask Laura a few questions to get to know her better:
Where are you from? What’s your background?
Hi Scot! I was raised
in California, and have lived and traveled throughout much of this great,
diverse state. I completed my undergraduate
degree at UC Santa Cruz in the late 90’s, majoring in Environmental Studies
with an emphasis on Agricultural Ecology. I’ve always been super interested in
the intersection between wildland conservation and land management, working on
many rural farms throughout my schooling.
After graduating, I started a career in field biology as an independent
consultant, focusing on arid systems.
I’ve spent about 13 years working as a field biologist, primarily in the
Mojave and Sonoran deserts—much of that time focusing on work with the
imperiled desert tortoise. In 2008, I
returned to school at University of Arizona and completed a M.S. in
Ecology. I am fascinated by the
interconnected complexities of wild systems, and humbled by our potential to interact
and affect those systems.
Can you give us a snapshot of what you are looking forward
to as Stewardship Manager?
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the long-term,
comprehensive vision of conservation science and land management on Tejon Ranch. And I’m honored to work with the
passionate, devoted team at the Conservancy.
Is there anything in particular on Tejon Ranch you are
excited to see?
Yes… Everything!!
We at the Conservancy are pretty big audiophiles. Can you
list 5 of your favorite albums?
Ha! That’s hard. Here’s a few…
Dangerous mes and poisonous
yous… Caleb Klauder
6 Volts…. Fred Eaglesmith
Holy cross blues…. Sam Doores, Riley Downing and the Tumbleweeds
Right key, wrong keyhole…. Red Stick Ramblers
The west was burning…. Martha Scanlan
We like to talk about how Tejon Ranch is at the confluence
of 4 of Ca’s major ecoregions (Southwestern Ca, San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada, Mojave
Desert). Do you have a favorite one?
While I am most familiar with the vivid, open Mojave desert
region, I am compelled by the galleries of ancient oaks, the dense fragrant
chaparral, the windy conifer ridges, and the rolling golden contours of
grasslands. I think they’re all my
favorite! And especially where they meet
and blend in unexpected ways… so fascinating!!
Besides Tejon Ranch, can you list 5 California locations
you love?
California is so extraordinary for the diversity of
landscapes we have-- it would be hard to choose outright favorites when the
contrast between areas is really the remarkable part. I guess I’d put at the top of the list: The Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley
for their unending backroad explorations and incredible geological and
biological diversity, the east side of the Santa Lucia Mountains for the
phenomenal wildflowers, the wild north coast for its silvery roiling ocean
vistas and silent damp forests, the stark and stunning east side of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains for their inaccessible beauty and hidden treasures…
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| Laura in a moment of repose |
