Board of Directors

Megan is a marine scientist and outdoor enthusiast passionate about sustainability and conservation. She has worked in the environmental non-profit arena for over a decade and also has experience working in academia and government. She first moved to Seattle to attend graduate school at the University of Washington, and while she moved to Maui and London after graduating, she felt the pull of Seattle and returned in 2017. One of her favorite things about living in Seattle is the nature in and around the city, and she is keen to help keep it that way through urban conservation efforts. Her love of birds started early, accompanying her father, an avid amateur avian photographer, on long walks in nature on the East Coast where she grew up.

Brett has been a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest and has been in Ballard for the last 11 years. After a brief, yet life altering, experience with a Rufous Hummingbird on a spring day about 10 years ago he quickly became more interested in the comings and goings of our feathered friends. As a person that thrives on building and existing in community, he began searching for the community of birds, finding Birds Connect Seattle in 2021. He has found joy in showing people the special aspects of birds that are right under their noses. Through these experiences he has seen firsthand the importance of conservation.  At the beginning of 2022, he joined the NextGen Council and that’s when community building really took off. Between leading Neighborhood Bird Outings, helping to plan Beers for Birds trivia nights, and anything else BCS wanted him to do, Brett quickly found his place in the loving, growing, and joy-bringing community of Birds Connect Seattle.

Anthony is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Washington. For over 20 years, he has helped lead numerous studies on substance use disorder treatment, much of that related to opioid use disorder. In addition to being a community theater actor and avid photographer, Anthony is also an aspiring birder building a portfolio of photos of local birds which he shares with his friends and family. He holds a doctorate in Sociology from Stanford University.

As a child, watching hungry, boisterous Glaucous-winged Gulls on Seattle’s waterfront while waiting for the Bainbridge ferry may have sparked Derek’s love of birds. The songs of White-crowned Sparrows and California Quail still bring back memories of growing up on Cougar Mountain, though a lingering mistrust of crows dates to an on-campus incident as an undergrad at UW. Birding has always been present, but it deepened in his 40s when long walks with his wife through the Montlake Fill became routine in 2020—soon followed by quality optics and guided birding trips abroad. Derek also enjoys scuba diving with his son, serving as a naturalist with beachgoers at low tide, and representing commercial tenants as a real estate broker from his Seattle waterfront office—where birding occasionally overlaps with work. His favorite bird is the Pigeon Guillemot, and he is nearing 600 lifers. 

Andres has lived in the Pacific Northwest off-and-on since 2006. He is a finance professional, having recently left a 15-year career at Amazon where he led teams focused on global cash management and banking infrastructure. Andres discovered both birding and livable, walkable cities while living temporarily in Europe, and is excited to be on the board to help sustain and defend those things here at home. When not in front of a computer, he enjoys hiking with his dog, and baking.

A lifelong resident of the great Pacific Northwest and UW graduate, Jim is an environmental lawyer currently employed as the Global Environment Director at Jacobs Solutions, a Fortune 500 construction and engineering company. Although a novice birder, he considers himself a bird advocate and aspires to leave the world a better place than he found it.

Andrew (he/him) grew up in Montana, but after attending school at Pacific Lutheran University he has called the PNW his home. Andrew has served in the Peace Corps and as a human rights activist. Currently he works as an ordained minister and deacon of the Lutheran church. Birding has been a way to feel connected to the natural world, his community, and his family. His favorite bird is the Northern Shoveler. In addition to birding, Andrew enjoys board games, hiking, D&D, and creating art. 

Melissa is an avian ecologist and educator who believes in centering the needs of all community members, both human and non-human. She is the daughter of a first-generation Peruvian mother and an Anglo-American father and holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution. Melissa worked for many years in Latin America in scientific and community projects, and taught ecology and birding basics to a broad audience. Currently, she leads a fellowship program for undergraduates who hold identities historically excluded from conservation that supports them in growing a more just and equitable field. She is excited to work with Birds Connect Seattle in support of thriving habitats for both birds and people. Beyond birding, she loves cooking, dancing, exploring the natural world, and spending time with her family.

Paul is a long-time Seattle resident and a life-long birder. Originally trained as a research scientist, he has spent the last two decades working in software technology, most recently in green tech and health and life sciences. Paul believes that celebrating birds in an urban setting can be a powerful motivator for people to connect with the natural world and care about its protection and conservation. He has volunteered at Birds Connect Seattle for the Neighborhood Bird Project in Seward Park, the Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring project, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) awareness campaign. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, he is also a member of the Science Committee. Paul holds a PhD degree in Cognitive Psychology from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics.  When not birding in Seattle, you might find him hiking and exploring the beautiful nature of the greater Pacific Northwest. 

Hailing from the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, Sara found her calling amidst the towering trees and meandering streams. As a dedicated restoration ecologist with a local conservation district, Sara is deeply passionate about preserving and revitalizing natural habitats for wildlife. Equipped with a degree in Environmental Studies, a minor in restoration ecology, and years of hands-on experience, Sara directs her work towards the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in her communities. Her passion for birds came later in life after taking an ecology class at UW Bothell. Sara finds solace with binoculars in hand and an ear attuned to the symphony of the avian world. For Sara, every outing is an opportunity to deepen her connection with nature and sharpen her skills in identifying species by their distinct calls—a journey of continuous learning and discovery.

Chris was raised in a vibrant, nature-revering Greek/Cypriot household in NYC where she cut her birding “chops” on the backyard birdsong of jays, sparrows, starlings, and cardinals. She earned a BA in Sociology from CUNY at Queens College and an MPP from the University of Chicago. In 1994, she and her husband set roots in Seattle and raised a family of humans and canines, alike. She brings to BCS’s board a career of governmental and nonprofit service in support of healthy communities, equitable access to opportunities, and the strategic stewardship of resources. Birding binoculars are Chris’s “fifth limb.” She loves pickleball and knitting and is an avid cruciverbalist and hockey fan.