Erika Zavaleta '89 Honored for

Diversity in Ecology Efforts

Horace Mann School alum Dr. Erika Zavaleta '89 was honored by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) with its prestigious Commitment to Human Diversity in Ecology Award for 2021. The award was announced at the ESA's annual meeting, held virtually this year, from August 2-6, 2021.

Founded in 1915, the ESA is the world's largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge. The organization's award recognized the "long-standing contributions toward increasing the diversity of future ecologists through mentoring, teaching, or outreach" that Dr. Zavaleta pursues, in conjunction with her responsibilities as a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California Santa Cruz. Dr. Zavaleta also directs the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, which recruits a diverse cohort of students for experiential training in field research and conservation leadership. As a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor at UC Santa Cruz, Dr. Zavaleta launched the Center to Advance Mentored, Inquiry-Based Opportunities for students in ecology and conservation programs, and developed a training program for preventing sexual harassment in field research activities.

"Dr. Zavaleta's development of innovative and accessible field experiences has enhanced the science skills, confidence, and leadership potential of many underrepresented students in conservation science, who are now pursuing or fulfilling their goals of an environmental career and sharing her vision to diversify today's environmental workforce," the ESA noted in announcing the award.

Dr. Zavaleta's science communication skills have also been impactful. She has produced 29 short field-based films about California's ecology and conservation, and co-edited the award-winning book, Ecosystems of California. In May 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her to the California Fish and Game Commission. In addition, on August 9, 2021, Dr. Zavaleta published an article entitled, "Anti-Racist Interventions to Transform Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Departments" in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Written with UC colleagues, the article offers a toolkit of resources for academic departments to use in addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

 

 Return to The Lion's Pride - Summer 2021