Amanda: Thank you! I actually have two; one East Coast and one West Coast bird. I grew up in Connecticut in a natural, woodsy area, and one of my early childhood memories is the scene in our backyard of a bright red Cardinal with a snowy backdrop. I remember seeing male and female cardinals together and noticing how different they looked, and yet how well they went together. On the West Coast, I had an experience with a Bald Eagle that is imprinted forever in my brain. I was driving over the SR520 floating bridge on my commute home from Seattle and saw a Bald Eagle fly low across the water of Lake Washington, plunge into the water and catch a fish. The timing was such that it flew directly in front of my windshield so closely that I saw the talon marks in the fish. It was all I could do not to veer off the road.  

T: That’s amazing. I think everyone in the world has a bird story. How were you first introduced to the world of conservation?  

A: Growing up in Connecticut and the tri-state area. I had the best of both worlds with access to nature right out my back door as well as access to all the museums, art, and natural history exhibits in New York City. My backyard really was a bird sanctuary thanks to my mother, who made it a priority to provide habitat and make sure our feeders were always full. I grew up with a deep appreciation for birds, other wildlife, natural history, and art, which was the foundation for my desire to connect people to nature. I first learned about Audubon through my neighbor across the street who owned and operated a local business focused on antique duck decoys, Audubon prints, and other bird-related collectibles and supplies. Through my mom and neighbor and their conversations, I learned about organizations like Audubon and that exposure was my introduction to the world of conservation.  

T: What led you from that early interest in conservation to this moment as Audubon’s new Vice President, Washington? 

A: My whole career has been in conservation. It’s core to who I am as a person and as a professional. I spent the past 25+ years working for the National Park Service (NPS) and one of my career highlights was working on the NPS centennial and Find Your Park campaign. For the centennial, our goal was to connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates. I saw many similarities with Audubon celebrating 120 years. I felt drawn to Audubon as a similarly large conservation organization, and one of the oldest and most established in the U.S., with a global brand and a mission that deeply resonated with me.  

T: Is that part of what attracted you to this position at Audubon? 

A: When I read Audubon’s strategic plan, their Flight Plan, I knew I was in the right place. The language of Flight Plan showed me that Audubon has a defined direction they are moving toward, and I was drawn to their clearly articulated goals and identity. Being in a mission-driven conservation organization is where I belong, and I’m inspired by Audubon’s message and hook that what is good for birds is good for people, wildlife, and the planet.   

T: What parts of your experience and skillset do you look forward to utilizing in this role? 

A: I see a lot of opportunity to scale programs, use my strategic communications and planning background, and expand partnerships. In the NPS, I often acted as a force multiplier, working across program areas, and scaling the great work already happening in the organization, especially from the field. My background and skills shine in this middle ground, at a state or regional level, where I am connecting on-the-ground work with a national structure. I’m looking forward to acting as an ambassador for Audubon and broadening our work to new partnerships and coalitions.  

T: You started just a few weeks ago, what has surprised or inspired you most thus far about Washington’s bird conservation community?  

A: In my first few weeks, I’m inspired. I’m inspired by the passion of the conservation community and how they show up. Audubon is an organization that doesn’t just watch birds, but understands that being a birder means being a conservationist. I’m also inspired by the ways that birds have the power to unify people across all demographics. Just as the national parks are unifiers across the world, so are birds. And finally, I’m inspired about what this small but mighty team has accomplished. I’m looking forward to working with this team and bringing additional capacity so we can do even more for birds and conservation in Washington. 

T: That’s good to hear. Audubon Washington has an accomplished network of chapters we partner with across the state. How do you envision working with those grassroots efforts? 

A: I spent a significant part of my career in the NPS leading conservation planning projects in parks. We partnered with other agencies, Tribes, the public, and nonprofits, seeking their input and technical advice on the priorities we were working on and our plans for implementation. Engaging local conservation organizations was a part of the work I enjoyed most. I’ve seen firsthand the value of those partner organizations and their abilities to mobilize audiences through their respective networks, providing important feedback and information. I am looking forward to getting out and meeting our conservation partners and Audubon chapters in the communities where they are working. I’m excited to see how Audubon chapters work together and share ideas across the network, and how we at the state level provide resources to support our shared work. As we work together on these big issues like habitat protection and climate resilience to protect birds, we are most effective when we share tools and resources and speak with one collective voice.   

T: Audubon has been working to ensure that everyone feels welcome in birding and conservation spaces. How will you continue advancing equity, inclusion, and community access in our work? 

A: Making sure everyone from every background feels welcome in birding and bird conservation is not just an Audubon value, it’s my personal value. Creating community and a sense of belonging is key to our success and core to how I think about and approach my work. I want to continue to prioritize and support work like Seward Park’s “Elevation” program, and I know that we are going to need everyone in current and future generations involved for our conservation mission to succeed.  

T: When you imagine the future of Audubon in Washington five or ten years from now, what does success look like for the organization? 

A: My vision is anchored in the idea that a rising tide lifts all ships. When I picture Audubon in Washington five or ten years from now, I imagine expanding our reach and impact for the benefit of birds and people. Success looks like galvanizing people and partners across the state to join us in achieving the ambitious goals outlined in Flight Plan. 

I also want our work to be more visible across the state. Audubon already does impressive work in Washington. Whether it’s restoring the shrub-steppe, protecting Puget Sound, or inspiring new generations through programs at the Seward Park Audubon Center, people should know that Audubon leads with science, collaboration, and the joy of birds. That visibility isn’t about recognition for its own sake, it’s what allows us to broaden partnerships and ultimately accelerate conservation outcomes. I sincerely believe that by working in communities and partnerships, we can make great progress in conservation and protect birds and the places they need.