Tara Cornelisse

Tara joined Conservation Corps North Bay in 2021 as the Director of both the Natural Resources and Career Pathways programs, bringing more than 15 years of experience in land conservation as well as in youth education and development. Prior to joining CCNB, Tara was a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity as well as a biological consultant for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working on habitat conservation and land management, particularly for rare species conservation in California’s unique ecosystems. Tara also served as an instructor and professor at the University of California Santa Cruz, Brooklyn College, and Canisius College, teaching ecological sciences to high school and college students, as well as providing academic support and career coaching. Specifically, Tara managed a research lab and mentored students in gaining applied field conservation skills to apply towards their chosen career. She completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz in 2013 on the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle and then a postdoctoral fellowship with the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History. Prior to her doctoral studies, Tara completed a M.S. in Conservation Biology at San Francisco State University and a B.A. in Ecology and Conservation from Boston University.