Alamos Wildlands Alliance Staff

Heather May              |    hmay@alamoswildlands.org 

Heather May (Executive Director) is a Washington State life resident who has studied natural history most of her life. Heather graduated with a B.S. from The Evergreen State College where she studied Ornithology and Botany. Prior to that she studied Environmental Science at Western Washington University for two years and served two years as a political organizer for the Sierra Club in Arizona. Since, she has worked as a field biologist on a number of projects throughout the western United States. Her experience also includes working as a naturalist in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California teaching at Sempervirens Outdoor School. The Agiabampo Estuary is deeply important to her, thus her pivotal role in founding Alamos Wildlands Alliance. Heather currently serves as the Executive Director of AWA.

Adam Hannuksela     |   ahannuksela@gmail.com

Adam Hannuksela (Director of Research) Adam has been living part time in, and calling Navopatia home since 2002.  He grew up throughout the Western United States and received his B.S. from The Evergreen State College.  He has worked as a field biologist in the states of; California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Sonora, Washington, and Wyoming.  In addition to helping run the station, he supervises field crews, networks with local partners and stakeholders, as well as heading all of AWA’s research and monitoring programs.  He is interested in wintering bird/habitat distributions, and the natural history of xeric lands.

Sallie Herman            |    saherman@alamoswildlands.org

Sallie Herman (Botanist & Station Manager) grew up in Washington state studying natural history her entire life.  She received her B.S. and Masters degree from Central Washington University.  She has been a botanist and field biologist for several state and federal agencies as well as a number of non-profits since 1994.  She is in charge of plant ecology projects and other field programs at the station.  She also helps run the day to day operations.

Steve Herman            |   stevenherman@hotmail.com

Dr. Steven G. Herman is ultimately responsible for the establishment of AWA and serves on the Board of Directors. For three decades he has taught vertebrate zoology and natural history and introduced students to native wild landscapes throughout North and Central America. He continues to teach several courses at The Evergreen State College as a professor emeritus. His past and current research focuses on desert and shrubsteppe ecosystems, toxicology and conservation of raptors, and maintaining natural history and conservation as sciences in their own right.

Lydia Lozano Angulo(Staff Biologist) Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa she graduated from Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, as a biologist, with a focus on Zoology.  She worked with sea turtles for 2 years, in Playa Ceuta, Sinaloa. Lydia worked with MoSI (monitoring overwintering survival) as a co-coordinator of 3 banding stations in 2006-2007 in Sinaloa and assisted with AWA's MoSI station.  She has also worked with the University of Bath, UK, in an evolution and behavior study on Charadrius alexandrinus (Snowy Plover), in Playa Ceuta, Sinaloa.  Lydia is also an original staff/founder of CISA A.C., Conservación, Investigación, y Servicios Ambientales A.C. a Mexican non-profit based in Culiacan.  Currently she is coordinating two MoMS (Molt migration and stop over) banding stations in Sinaloa, and playing a large role in the research projects at the Navopatia Field Station during the winter field season.

Portino Luis Mendivil Alvarez “Tino” has lived in Navopatia since childhood.  He is a fisherman who has become an exquisite boatman for tour groups.  He has attended bird guide training workshops and, often with his son Guadalupe, has become indispensible in assisting with AWA’s field studies. 

 

Ruben Mendivil Cota
Ruben, husband of Lupita, built the entire station.  He was known as “Mil Usos” (1000 uses) as he was thought of as the handiest person in the region.  He taught many people a plethora of skills.  He passed away in 2008 and is sorely missed.

Guadalupe “Lupita” Mendivil Alvarez
Lupita has lived in Navopatia since childhood.  She has been with the field station through all of its incarnations and is the station cook.  She has prepared thousands of world famous meals for a wide range of people and never disappoints.  She is no longer afraid of Boa Constrictors.

Joaquin Olea Cota has been in Navopatia for several decades. He is the only year- round resident of the fishing village. He is an inspiration to all and helps out all over Navopatia and at the station. He leads medicinal plant walks, helps with spanish, and lends a hand in building projects. He is also a caretaker for the rest of the community.

Danner Bradshaw(Webmaster and Photographer)   |   dannerthemanner@gmail.com