Project Wingspan Golden State Staff
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James Hart
Originally from Tidewater Virginia, James developed a love of plants and the outdoors during family trips to the mountains of New England. These interests led him to pursue a BA in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he focused on botany and forest ecology. His undergraduate thesis project focused on the effects of drought and fire adaptations on longleaf pine seedling survival. James has worked numerous seasonal positions over the years, and after graduating he took part in two terms as an AmeriCorps member, one in the Palouse region of eastern Washington State and one in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Through his time in California, James has grown passionate about the conservation challenges that the region faces and the solutions being implemented across the landscape. He is excited to bring his enthusiasm for ecology and restoration to Pollinator Partnership, where he will be working to restore and promote pollinator habitat in California and beyond. When he’s not working, you can find him riding his gravel bike, working on some woodworking projects or playing music.
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Kaleigh Obrock
Kaleigh has a lifelong love of nature and conservation and spends as much time as she can outside hiking and exploring new areas. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and Ecology with a minor in Environmental Science. As an undergraduate, she was involved in multiple research studies related to the conservation of local pollinators. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the thermal and desiccation tolerances of bumblebees. After graduation, she worked as a restoration specialist where she managed native plants and improved pollinator habitat. She continues to be passionate about pollinators and conducts regular surveys and volunteer programs to promote pollinator health and education in her community.
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Savannah Christiansen
Savannah grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area of California where she developed a lifelong love for the nature of both urban and suburban landscapes. Thinking about mutually improving our human communities’ relationship with the environment is what led her to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in English and Environmental Studies. Her past experiences include production for an environmental news radio program, teaching English and leading youth on an organic vegetable farm. She’s thrilled to be returning home to San Francisco to work with P2’s administration and supporting pollinator conservation and education.
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Miles Dakin
Miles Dakin has had a lifetime passion and love for insects. As a child he was raised on his mother’s farm and at Bouverie Preserve, where his father lived, giving him a deep appreciation for conservation and land management. Miles spent countless hours hiking through the hills and fields of Sonoma County, chasing after newts, beetles and his 3 older sisters. He went on to receive his B.S. in Ecology and Computer Science from Tulane University and recently received his M.S. in Entomology from UC Davis, focusing on Navel Orangeworm management in almonds and pistachios. Miles hopes to continue to bring his passion for conservation and his deep appreciation for mindful land management to P2 and the Bee Friendly Farming program.
