STAFF

Tyler Feld
Co-Executive Director

Tyler’s (he/him) love of the outdoors, particularly native plants, began from early childhood experiences exploring the oak woodlands of Southern California and the pine forests of the Sierra Nevadas. He first joined Grassroots Ecology in 2021 to manage restoration projects at Foothills Nature Preserve and the Midpeninsula Open Space District sites. He joined Alex as Co-Executive Director in 2025 and steers our restoration and education programs and strategic plan implementation. Tyler has a background in youth outdoor education and is also the founding director of Branching Out Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating queerness through connection to the outdoors. In his spare time, Tyler is passionate about exploring diverse ecosystems through cycling, camping, and recreating outdoors.

Alex Von Feldt
Co-Executive Director

Alex (she/her) was the Executive Director of Grassroots Ecology when the organization was founded in 2016 and led the way in creating our shared co-leadership structure, which has been in place since 2023. Alex oversees funding and financial management, and she enjoys enabling new programs that improve local biodiversity, engage the community and advance equity - all at the same time. She was drawn into restoration after getting involved in the daylighting of Sausal Creek at the Portola Valley Town Center and seeing it transform from a concrete pipe into a vibrant creek habitat. Alex has experience as a project manager in the fields of business consulting and software development and has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She enjoys taking care of her native plant garden with the “help” of her golden retrievers.

AJ Bautista
California Climate Action Corps Member

AJ (he/him) is excited to join the Grassroots Ecology team for the 2024–25 term, bringing with him a BS in Environmental Sciences and a BA in Geography from San Francisco State University. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, AJ grew up hiking, snowboarding, and climbing, which sparked his appreciation for natural spaces. Aware of his environmental impact through outdoor recreation, he volunteers with nonprofit organizations to help restore damaged habitats and maintain hiking trails.

Junko Bryant
Special Projects

Junko (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2009 to launch the Redwood Grove restoration project, and held various positions in the organization including the Co-Executive Director role from 2023-25. She has a special interest in how cities intersect with nature. Junko takes particular pride in seeing our urban spaces transform into habitats that support both people and wildlife, and played a key role in building our programs and partnerships in Redwood City and East Palo Alto. Junko holds a B.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University and a Master of Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Paola Bueno
Project Lead

Paola (she/her) is the Project Lead for the Cooley Landing and Ravenswood Preserve projects. She first joined Grassroots Ecology in 2021 as a college intern and previously worked as an interpretive aide for the East Bay Regional Park District, which sparked her interest in restoration and environmental justice. As a lifetime Bay Area resident, Paola is excited to be a part of restoration projects in urban areas and is committed to working with low-income and immigrant communities to create positive experiences with nature and the land. Paola has a degree in Environmental Science from the California State University, East Bay.

Fran Callan
Business Director

Fran, an experienced start-up professional, joined Grassroots Ecology in 2018. She brings to the position an extensive background in community service, as well as prior experience establishing a non-profit organization. Fran enjoys the outdoors and is a strong believer in working to preserve our California native environments. She has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Hannah Cunningham
Project Manager

Hannah (she/her) is a naturalist and educator currently running the Arastradero and Alviso Bufferlands restoration projects as well as the summer naturalist internship program. She found her way to environmental work through volunteering at Grassroots Ecology events and participating in its 2017 California Naturalist Certification Program and joined our staff in 2019. Hannah holds a B.A. in Political Science from NYU, and has a background in sustainable economic development and nonprofit administration. Look for her on the trails of the Peninsula’s parks and open spaces!

Kate Dolkas
Development Director

Before joining the Grassroots Ecology team in 2020, Kate (she/her) supported grantmaking for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and served as the Development Director for Paso Pacífico, a NGO restoring the dry tropical forest of Nicaragua through science, conservation and education. Kate grew up in Texas, but has spent the last 17 years adventuring throughout the West, cultivating a love of the outdoors and an appreciation for open space. She has a B.S. in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis and a M.S. in Bioregional Planning and Community Design from the University of Idaho.

Halle Donovan
California Climate Action Corps Member

Halle (she/her) recently joined the Grassroots Ecology team as a California Climate Action Corps Fellow. She fell in love with the outdoors as a kid, camping and catching newts throughout California’s state parks. Halle graduated with a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley, focusing on Landscape Ecology and Management. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and befriending the cats in her neighborhood.

Deanna Giuliano
Nursery Director / Botanical Consultant

Deanna has nurtured thousands of native plants since taking the reins of our nursery in 2006, including rolling out new protocols to ensure pathogen-free nursery stock. She has served as president of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, and remains active in CNPS initiatives such as Rare Plant Treasure Hunts. Deanna previously worked for Central Coast Wilds and the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. She has an A.S. in Horticulture from Cabrillo College and a B.A. in Environmental Studies/Biology with an emphasis in Plant Ecology from UC Santa Cruz.

Stanley Gu
Ecologist II

Growing up in the Bay Area, Stanley (he/him) developed an obsession with the local flora and bringing biodiversity back to our urban areas. He participated in Grassroots Ecology's California Naturalist Certification Program in 2021 and joined as a Watershed Stewards Program Corpsmember later that year. In his free time, he enjoys propagating native plants and sharing his love of botany with others. Stanley has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University.

Natalie Jagoda
California Climate Action Corps Member

Natalie (she/her) recently joined Grassroots Ecology as a 2024-25 California Climate Action Corps Fellow. She became a certified California Naturalist in 2022 through Grassroots Ecology’s Summer Naturalist Internship. She is always learning about the evolutionary relationships between plants, and is interested in foraging, medicinal uses of plants, species ID, and what she calls “binography” (photography through binoculars). She studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated with a dual B.S. in Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies, and is now also interning with Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful.

Johanne Larsen
Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member

Jo (she/her) is a California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member with the Grassroots Ecology team for 2024-25. Raised in the Bay Area, she developed a deep connection with the local ecosystem, from the Santa Cruz Coastal Mountain Range to Alviso Slough. An avid hiker, snowboarder, kayaker, and surfer, Jo is passionate about restoring clean waterways for ecosystem health and recreation. Having recently graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science from California State University, Chico, she is eager to engage the community in watershed stewardship initiatives, focusing on projects that enhance ecosystems.

Valerie Lee
Director of Community Engagement

Born and raised in California, Val (she/her) is an advocate for prioritizing diversity in both wildlife and human communities. After learning to care for habitats while earning her B.S. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, she joined Grassroots Ecology in 2016 to manage habitat restoration projects and lead educational events. Now, her focus is to bolster Grassroots Ecology's community engagement strategies to be more inclusive through staff development, programs, partnerships, and outreach. Her goal is to invite community members facing systemic barriers to engage with nearby nature, to support their relationship with land, self, and one another.

Aaron McLin
California Climate Action Corps Member

Aaron (he/him) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2024 as a returning California Climate Action Corps fellow. Growing up in the midwest, he spent a lot of time outdoors with his grandfather fishing, gardening, and mountain biking in the woods. Aaron was a vet tech for over 8 years until he decided to shift his career focus to more climate action related work, inspired during a backpacking trip to Machu Picchu. During his first fellowship, Aaron discovered he had a strong passion for habitat restoration and tending to outdoor spaces. In his free time, Aaron enjoys playing basketball, exploring California's vast hiking spots, and cooking.

Serena Myjer
Restoration Specialist II

Serena (she/her) was born and raised in the South Bay, and first worked with Grassroots Ecology in 2020 as a summer intern. After college, she served at Grassroots Ecology as an AmeriCorps member through the Watershed Stewards Program and California Climate Action Corps. Her other work experience includes summer camp counselor, making coffee, leading bike tours, conducting rare plant surveys, and most recently planting and caring for native plant hedgerows with Point Blue Conservation Science in the STRAW program (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed). She is motivated to do habitat restoration work by the joy of being in and with nature, but also the desire to create a livable future for all.

Maya Nagaraj
Restoration Specialist II

Maya (she/they) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2023 as a California Climate Action Corps fellow. She grew up in the Bay Area hiking, riding horses, and learning to love nature. Prior to working for Grassroots Ecology, she worked as a research assistant for a variety of behavioral and population ecology studies. She also spent time in Germany as a scientific researcher and educator, studying evolution and science communication. She holds a B.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity, and a B.A. in Classical Civilizations, from UC Davis.

Isabella (Bella) Nishihira
Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member

Bella (she/her) is a California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards Program Corps Member with the Grassroots Ecology team for 2024-25. Born and raised in the East Bay, she fell in love with the outdoors from a young age doing activities such as camping, hiking and biking. She recently graduated from San José State University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Environmental Restoration. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong foundation in ecological principles, conservation, and sustainable practices, which she is eager to apply to her career here at Grassroots Ecology.

Shelley Pneh
Ecologist III

Shelley (she/her) joined Grassroots Ecology in 2017, bringing expertise in aquatic insect research, water quality monitoring, pollinators, and habitat restoration. She is currently leading our San Francisquito Creek watershed and Mountain View Shoreline restoration projects. Concurrently, Shelley is an aquatic entomologist at UC Berkeley assisting researchers studying food web interactions in the South Fork Eel River and its tributaries. She holds a degree in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Entomology from UC Berkeley. A lifelong San Jose resident, Shelley enjoys exploring and commuting on local bicycle trails.

Stephanie Saffouri
Project Manager

Stephanie is interested in urban ecology and creating connections between communities and their natural spaces. A Bay Area native, she is excited to apply her field ecology background to her local community as a Project Manager at McClellan Ranch Preserve and Sunnyvale Baylands. Stephanie has done research in a wide range of habitats from salt marshes to the Hawaiian rainforest. In her spare time, she loves to bake treats, cook, and work in her vegetable garden. She has a B.A. in biology from Pomona College and an M.S. in biology from San Francisco State University.

Emily Sharp
Operations Director

Emily (she/her) is passionate about building relationships and increasing access to green jobs. She joined Grassroots Ecology in 2019 as a Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellow. After the fellowship, she managed the Byrne Preserve and Redwood Grove restoration projects and coordinated our seasonal internship program. In her current role as Operations Director, she supports all restoration teams on project management, hiring, staff development, reporting, and administration. She holds a degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Vanderbilt University. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, reading, and crossword puzzles.

Meili Stanten
California Climate Action Corps Member

Meili (she/her) is excited to be joining Grassroots Ecology as a 2024-25 California Climate Action Corps Fellow! She recently graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Science in Society with a Chemistry minor. Born and raised on the East Coast, Meili moved west to explore her interest in conservation, as she has always been inspired by those working to combat the effects of climate change. Constantly drawn to the outdoors, her hobbies include hiking, camping, tossing around a frisbee, foraging for mushrooms, and discovering new crafty projects.

Brian Tatsuta
Restoration Specialist II

Brian (he/him) joined Grassroots Ecology as a Habitat Restoration Intern in 2022 while pursuing a degree in Horticulture. As a lifelong Bay Area resident, he developed his love for nature by exploring the vast amount of open spaces that this region has to offer. Prior to working as a full time staff member, Brian participated in the California Youth Leadership Corps, where he built his skills in community organizing. He is excited to put these skills to use by building community and promoting diversity in the outdoors. In his free time, Brian enjoys hiking, kayaking, fishing, and growing native plants for his garden.

Siena Watson
Project Lead

Siena (she/her) is currently leading the Byrne Preserve and Foothills Nature Preserve restoration projects. She has supported multiple restoration projects and the native plant nursery since she joined Grassroots Ecology as a Watershed Stewards Program Corpsmember in 2019. Siena loves exploring the preserves she stewards, collecting seed, and connecting with people in nature. She is especially passionate about supporting local Indigenous communities and their efforts to restore traditional ecological practices to their land. She holds a B.S. in Marine and Coastal Science from UC Davis and was a summer intern with Grassroots Ecology in 2018.

Laurel Wee
Project Manager

Laurel (she/her) is an alumnus of UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, where she specialized in Conservation Planning with an Environmental Communication focus. While at Bren, she worked with Parks California as a Resource Stewardship Intern and researched tools used by park planners to balance public access and resource protection. Previously, Laurel worked in environmental education for four years as a Teacher and then as a Program Director. She received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from UC Santa Cruz. Laurel is passionate about environmental stewardship that connects community engagement, education opportunities, and climate solutions. She joined Grassroots Ecology as a Project Lead for the Redwood City sites in January 2023.

STAFF EMERITI / CONSULTANTS

Claire Elliott
Senior Ecologist Emeritus

Claire retired as Senior Ecologist in 2023 after 17 years with Grassroots Ecology. She is a lifelong naturalist and educator who can still be spotted weeding and sharing nature facts at our restoration sites, especially at McClellan Preserve and Bol Park. Among her many contributions, Claire started Grassroots Ecology’s partnership with the Americorps Watershed Stewards Program, ran our first Youth Stewards and California Naturalist certification programs, and applied her engineering skills to guide our green infrastructure work. She loves California everlasting and detests privet.

Paul Heiple
Botanist Emeritus

Paul retired as Staff Botanist in 2019 after 11 years with Grassroots Ecology. Trained as a geologist, he found his way to botany while noticing the relationships between plants and different soil types. He led the Arastradero Weed Warriors for many years and advised Grassroots Ecology’s approach to controlling yellow starthistle using timed mowing and followup manual removal with volunteers. Paul currently keeps up his weeding skills with the Friends of Edgewood and continues to be a trusted advisor to Grassroots Ecology.

Kristen Williams
Habitat Restoration Consultant

Kristen left her position as our first Habitat Restoration Director in 2025. During her 12 years with Grassroots Ecology, Kristen launched the Byrne Preserve restoration project and our first Midpen projects at Hawthorns and Russian Ridge and led the Redwood Grove project. As Habitat Restoration Director, she guided our open space restoration teams, built our collaborative staff culture, and improved the quality of our programs in countless ways. She was also instrumental in initiating our Indigenous allyship and DEI work. Kristen continues to be a trusted advisor though her time is now dedicated to tending to her family and a plot of land in her home town of Mendocino.