Statement from Our New Executive Director

I was lucky enough to spend my youth exploring the Sierra Nevada along with all of the National Parks and natural areas of the West. Through these explorations, I learned, fairly early on, the unique and powerful beautify and ecological power of the Sierra Nevada. After years of hiking and camping in spots both famous and hidden, I was fortunate enough to cut my college ecology teeth on an experimental forest right here in Nevada County (Lowell Hill Long Term Soil Productivity plot). Fresh out of college, I landed a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) position with Sierra Streams Institute. In this first stint with SSI, I learned of the true power and sense of community that comes with citizen and community science. I’ve walked rocky streams with many of you or talked in the office about a wildlife survey or an unexpected observation in the hills above Deer Creek. And then, I was allowed to explore new ecological horizons.

After master’s research in what I thought would be the ecological holy grail in the tropics, I realized my calling was in the Sierra. I pursued a Ph.D. in drought ecology of the Sierra, researching how my favorite trees in my favorite places responded to, or unfortunately succumbed to, drought and pests like bark beetles. 

Then the opportunity to return to SSI came up. I will forever be grateful for Joanne, our prior ED, reaching out to me to share a new position SSI was hiring. In passing, half-joking, she asked about me returning to SSI. I jumped at the opportunity to return to Gold Country and this unique corner of the Sierra. 

Now, as ED, I look toward our future with enthusiasm, excitement, and⎼perhaps most of all, as a science-based organization⎼curiosity. What new ecological challenges will we face? Can we adapt to climate change-induced stresses on our landscape and work toward resilience? Can we use our unprecedented and unique-to-non-profit groups dataset for two decades to discover resilient or susceptible locations in our watersheds? Can we find causes of health issues unique to our region? Can we tear down the walls of academic ivory towers and truly put science in the hands of the people? As we enter a new era for SSI, I look forward to interacting with each and every one of you as we work as a community to learn from, work in and work together to maintain resilience in⎼our unique corner of the Sierra. 

-Jeff Lauder, PhD

Executive Director