I am a conservation scientist with almost 20 years of experience of work in Central America. My main research interests have involve the role of matrix habitats (i.e., the usually degraded or human-managed lands beyond protected areas) in wildlife conservation in the Neotropics. I have served as the Director of Conservation Science for Paso Pacífico, a non-profit dedicated to biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods in southwestern Nicaragua. Currently, I continue working on a couple of projects with Paso Pacífico; I am also an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, where I focus on engaging with students interested in sustainable agriculture as I transition from inside scientist to farmer. Along with my partner, in late 2017 I started my own farm where we are establishing climate-resilient, tree-based agriculture. In my work I draw from diverse disciplines, from ecology to anthropology to agricultural sciences.