Staff

Kristy Kroeker

Faculty Director

Abe Borker

Assistant Faculty Director

I am a Conservation Biologist and Educator. I leverage field- and inquiry-based teaching to train, connect, and accelerate emerging conservation leaders. I had the privlidge of serving the Doris Duke Scholars Program at UCSC from 2016-2024 as an instructor and later Program Director. I apply science to solve both education and conservation challenges on a changing human planet. I love natural history, experiential learning, seabirds, bioacoustics, monitoring, and biodiversity. I dislike being seasick and drinking burnt coffee.

Erika Zavaleta

Program Faculty

Kelly Zilliacus

Program Coordinator

I am a Research Specialist and I have worked at UC Santa Cruz since 2002, initially joining Don Croll’s Conservation Action Lab to run the Center for Integrated Marine Technologies Wind to Whales program. In 2005 I started a Master’s Degree in Ocean Sciences using seabird data from the Wind to Whales program and the BeachCOMBERS beach walk program. Upon completion of my degree I continued to work in the Conservation Action Lab. I was also the initial Program Coordinator for the Coastal Science and Policy Program, and later joined the Conservation Science & Stewardship lab in 2023 to help with the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program. In addition, I work closely with the UC Natural Reserves group. I am excited to help the Conservation Leadership Immersion Experience Program launch its first cohort of scholars!